Fans enter the field area as they vandalise the Salt Lake Stadium, alleging poor management during Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s G.O.A.T India Tour 2025, in Kolkata on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose was not allowed inside Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday (December 13, 2025) evening, hours after violence erupted at the venue following vandalism by spectators after football legend Lionel Messi made a brief public appearance there.
Football fans were upset that despite paying for tickets to enter the stadium to catch a glimpse of their favourite player, they could not see Lionel Messi properly as organisers and VIPs had encircled the football legend.
When the Governor arrived at the stadium, the gates were closed and the lights were switched off.
“Its not a case of the key of the gate… remember, all for a nail a kingdom was lost. If any deliberate attempt is done by someone to hide the truth from the constitutional head of the State, they are in a fool’s paradise,” the Governor remarked.
Officials at the Raj Bhavan said the Governor had visited the stadium to get a first hand account of the situation so that he could send a report to the Centre.
Earlier in the day, after football fans vandalised parts of the stadium, the police cleared the venue of spectators and media personnel. The Governor had issued directives to the State government to order a judicial enquiry into the incident, arrest the organiser, and refund the ticket money to the public.
The West Bengal Police arrested Satadru Dutta, the main organiser of the event, and assured that fans would be compensated. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the setting up of an enquiry commission to investigate the mismanagement at the stadium.
On Friday (December 12), the Governor had written to the State government seeking a detailed report on the arrangements made for the footballer’s visit to Kolkata.
Published – December 13, 2025 10:05 pm IST
