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Chief Minister announced the formation of an enquiry committee to investigate the cause of the chaos.
Mamata Banerjee issues apology and orders enquiry after mismanagement at Messi event in Kolkata.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed deep concern over the mismanagement at Salt Lake Stadium during football superstar Lionel Messi’s recent event.
In a post on X, she wrote, “I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi.”
Banerjee also extended an apology to Messi and the fans. “I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” she said.
Enquiry committee formed
The Chief Minister announced the formation of an enquiry committee to investigate the cause of the chaos. Justice (Retd.) Ashim Kumar Ray will chair the committee, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, as members.
“The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” Banerjee added. She concluded her statement by extending her heartfelt apologies once again to all sports lovers.
Chaos erupts
Thousands of fans had gathered at Salt Lake Stadium with the hope of seeing Lionel Messi. However, poor crowd management and inadequate planning led to frustration among the audience. Some fans reportedly threw bottles and chairs from the stands in anger.
Messi’s appearance lasted only a few minutes, leaving many attendees disappointed. The short duration of his visit, combined with the heavy presence of security and organisers around him, prevented fans from catching a proper glimpse of the football icon.
Public and political reaction
The incident sparked criticism from political circles and social media users, highlighting concerns about event planning and crowd safety at large gatherings. While the focus remains on Messi’s visit, authorities are under pressure to ensure such mismanagement does not recur.
With the enquiry committee now in place, the state government aims to investigate the incident thoroughly, assign responsibility, and take steps to prevent similar issues at future events. Fans and the general public await the committee’s findings, hoping for better organisation and safety standards at major sporting events in West Bengal.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 13, 2025, 13:26 IST
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