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New Delhi: Satadru Dutta, the organiser behind Argentine football icon Lionel Messi’s Kolkata appearance, was arrested on Saturday after the event at Salt Lake Stadium descended into chaos, forcing the World Cup winner to leave the field much earlier than scheduled.
Thousands of fans had thronged the stadium to catch a glimpse of Messi, purchasing tickets priced between Rs 4,800 and Rs 25,000. However, poor crowd control and event management triggered unrest inside the venue. Frustrated spectators, unable to see the football star properly, allegedly hurled bottles and chairs from the stands and broke into restricted areas, escalating the situation.
Messi’s brief presence on the field, coupled with tight security and organisers surrounding him, further disappointed fans who had expected a longer interaction or clearer view of the football legend. Videos and images of the disorder quickly spread online, drawing sharp criticism from political leaders and social media users, who raised questions about crowd safety and planning at high-profile events.
Calling the incident a “dark day” for Kolkata’s sports enthusiasts, Governor CV Ananda Bose directed the state government to take immediate action against those responsible for the mismanagement. Acting on this, police detained Satadru Dutta, who was named as the organiser of the event.
West Bengal Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar told reporters that Dutta was held for alleged mismanagement and warned that strict action would follow. He also said the organisers would refund the ticket money paid by spectators.
Posters and promotional material for Messi’s G.O.A.T Tour in India described the programme as ‘A Satadru Dutta Initiative’. Dutta is known for having earlier facilitated visits by football greats Pele and Diego Maradona to India.
“I just want to tell him to play football with me. And if I’m not successful, I will go to the gym tomorrow morning to catch a glimpse of him. I have my autograph book ready and hopefully I will get a selfie,” Dutta had said after receiving Messi at the airport.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock and announced a high-level inquiry into the mismanagement. She also issued an apology to Messi and to fans who had gathered for the programme.
“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium,” Banerjee said. She also said that thousands of people had come with the hope of seeing the football star.
Governor Bose said that while the organisers were primarily responsible for the chaos, the police had also “failed” the government, the public and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the home portfolio.
The disorder ultimately led to the programme being cut short, preventing several invited guests, including actor Shah Rukh Khan and former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, from participating as planned.
