Satadru Dutta, the chief organiser of Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated ‘GOAT Tour of India’, was denied bail on Sunday and remanded to 14-day police custody, a day after violent chaos erupted at Salt Lake Stadium during the event. The Kolkata leg turned into a nightmare for hundreds of fans who failed to get a glimpse of Messi and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, leading to arson and clashes, per Hindustan Times.
The trouble began Saturday evening when Messi made a brief, ring-fenced appearance—his first in Kolkata since 2011—frustrating crowds who had paid up to ₹20,000 for tickets and traveled long distances. Videos showed fans setting fire to barricades and vandalizing the venue, with police struggling to control the mob. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, who inspected the stadium Sunday with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and senior officers, described it as a “dark day for the sports-loving people of Kolkata.” He directed the arrest of Dutta and blamed police for poor crowd management, alleging the government tried to block his entry by switching off lights and closing gates (Times of India).
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee formed a high-level inquiry committee headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Ashim Kumar Ray, including the chief secretary and home secretary, to probe the fiasco. Banerjee’s government has faced backlash for the event’s organisation, with opposition parties like BJP calling it a “security lapse” (The Indian Express). Dutta’s denial of bail came amid allegations of misleading fans and poor planning, though specific charges weren’t detailed in court.
The incident has cast a shadow on Kolkata’s sports scene, with fans on X venting frustration: “Paid thousands for nothing!” (X post). India’s 1.5 crore football enthusiasts, drawn to Messi’s global appeal, feel betrayed—2024 saw 70% rise in international event attendance (FIFA). For India’s 140 crore, it’s a reminder of event mismanagement—will Banerjee’s probe deliver, or fade into excuses?
