West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday apologised to football legend Lionel Messi after large-scale mismanagement at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium left thousands of fans disappointed and triggered chaotic scenes inside the venue.
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.
I…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 13, 2025
In a post on X, Banerjee said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by what unfolded at the stadium, where fans had gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the Argentine superstar.
“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” the chief minister said.
Chief Minister Announces Enquiry Committee
Banerjee said she was on her way to the stadium to attend the event when the situation spiralled out of control. Acknowledging the scale of the failure, she announced the constitution of an enquiry committee to investigate the incident.
“I am constituting an enquiry committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Ashim Kumar Ray, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, as members,” she said.
ALSO READ: Messi visit turns messy as fans fail to grab GOAT glimpse despite paying thousands
According to Banerjee, the panel will conduct a detailed enquiry, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future. “Once again, I extend my heartfelt apologies to all sports lovers,” she added.
What Triggered the Chaos at Salt Lake Stadium
The apology came after scenes of unrest erupted at the ticketed event on Saturday, when Lionel Messi cut short his appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium, leaving thousands of fans frustrated.
Videos circulating on social media showed spectators breaking barricades, throwing bottles and chairs, and vandalising parts of the stadium. Fans vented their anger after failing to get a clear view of Messi, despite paying premium prices for entry.
Fans Demand Refunds After Disrupted Event
Several attendees said ticket prices ranged between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000, but many could not even see the football icon.
“The minimum price of the ticket was 5 thousand, and why were the VVIPs around Messi? We couldn’t even see him,” one frustrated fan said, alleging lapses in crowd control. “Why weren’t the police taking action? Everyone was furious. We want the refund.”
ALSO READ: When GOAT met King: Messi gets clicked with Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, internet goes wild
Another spectator described the episode as an “absolute disgrace,” claiming Messi did not complete a full lap of the stadium as expected.
Fallout Continues Amid Public Outrage
The incident has sparked widespread criticism of the event’s organisation and raised serious questions about crowd management at large-scale public appearances involving global sports icons.
With the enquiry committee now in place, the state government is expected to review security arrangements and accountability as public anger continues to simmer over what was meant to be a celebratory moment for Indian football fans.
