The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday distanced itself from Lionel Messi’s event in Kolkata, which resulted in chaos today due to inadequate crowd control and security lapses. The AIFF expressed its concern and said that they were not told the details of the event, nor was permission sought from them.
Approximately 50,000 viewers, many of whom have since paid ₹4,000 a ₹12,000 or so ₹The black market’s 20,000 were left frustrated as a swarm of politicians, VVIPs, security personnel and others reportedly focused more on taking selfies than managing the crowd around Messi, leaving fans at the Salt Lake Stadium outraged.
“The All India Football Federation is deeply concerned about the events that took place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan where thousands of fans gathered to see world football stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul. It was a private event organized by a PR agency. AIFF had no involvement in the organization, planning or execution of the event,” ANI quoted him as saying.
The AIFF said they were not told the details of the event, nor did they get any permission from the Federation. They urged all participants to fully cooperate with authorities and maintain order, stressing that the safety and security of all involved should be the highest priority.
Messi Kolkata tour: What happened at the Salt Lake Stadium?
What should have been a spectacular event turned chaotic as Messi’s brief, tightly controlled appearance, his first at the stadium since 2011, left much of the crowd frustrated. Many fans who traveled long distances were unable to catch a glimpse of the superstar.
The police said they are also probing how the organizers allowed the sale of bottled water and beverages inside the stadium, which are prohibited at such events, a PTI report said. Angry spectators threw thousands of water bottles onto the pitch and some even ripped buckets from the stands to use as projectiles against police and security personnel.
Fans have claimed that water bottles are being sold at inflated prices in the stadium, despite a ban on bringing them in. Police acknowledged that tension in the stands was fueled by Messi’s failure to display his football prowess on the pitch, which was exacerbated when a group of VIPs, including Minister of State for Sports Aroop Biswas and other unidentified persons, obstructed the football icon’s view during his brief appearance.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer later confirmed that Satadru Dutta was arrested. According to the latest reports, the police questioned him and his manager in one of the departure halls of the airport.
