Messi's Kolkata event chaos linked to 'influential person': Report

India Dec 20, 2025

Lionel Messi's much-hyped event in Kolkata on December 13, 2025, turned chaotic after an "influential person" arrived and overpowered the organizer, resulting in more people being allowed onto the field.
Security couldn't keep up, and Messi left within minutes of his appearance, sparking crowd unrest and vandalism at Salt Lake Stadium.

What went wrong—and what happens next

Organizer Satadru Dutta told investigators that the sudden increase in ground passes threw their plan off track, leaving many fans unable to see Messi.
The Special Investigation Team is now digging into security lapses and ticketing issues, while West Bengal's sports minister has resigned and a formal probe is underway.