West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced serious concern over the poor management at Salt Lake Stadium during football icon Lionel Messi’s recent appearance. “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," she wrote in a post on X.
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Banerjee also apologised to Lionel Messi and his fans. “I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident," she further said.
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Probe ordered into the incident
The Chief Minister announced the formation of an enquiry committee to examine what led to the chaos at the event. Retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray will head the panel, along with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs Department.
Banerjee said the committee will conduct a thorough investigation, identify those responsible, and suggest measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. She again offered an apology to sports fans.
Poor planning sparks unrest
Thousands of fans gathered at Salt Lake Stadium hoping to catch a glimpse of football star Lionel Messi. However, weak crowd control and poor planning led to frustration among the audience. Some fans reportedly threw bottles and chairs in anger.
Messi’s appearance lasted only a short time, leaving many disappointed. Heavy security and organisers surrounding him made it difficult for fans to see the football icon properly.
The incident drew criticism from political leaders and social media users, raising questions about event management and crowd safety. With the enquiry committee now in place, the state government aims to fix accountability and improve planning for future large-scale events in West Bengal.