Mamata Banerjee Regrets Kolkata Event Mishap, Apologises to Lionel Messi & Fans

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed regret and issued a public apology to football icon Lionel Messi and his fans after chaos and violence marred a high-profile event at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, forcing it to be cut short.

The chief minister described the scenes as shocking and announced a high-level inquiry to identify lapses and fix accountability.

Mamata Banerjee Apologises Over Event Chaos

Banerjee, who was on her way to attend the programme, said she was disturbed by what unfolded at the venue and extended an apology to the Argentine star and sports enthusiasts across the country.

"I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident," she said.

Inquiry Committee Announced to Probe Lapses

The chief minister announced the formation of a committee headed by a retired judge to conduct a detailed probe into the incident and recommend corrective steps to avoid similar situations in the future.

"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. The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future," read her statement.

Fans' Anger Erupts Into Violence at Stadium

Messi arrived in Kolkata earlier in the day as part of the first leg of his three-day India tour. After unveiling a statue of himself in the city, he proceeded to Salt Lake Stadium, where thousands of fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of the football legend.

However, many ticket holders, who had paid between Rs 3,500 and Rs 14,000, were unable to see him, triggering frustration and anger. As crowds swelled, fans reportedly breached security, hurled bottles and chairs, and vandalised parts of the stadium, while police struggled to bring the situation under control. Messi was eventually escorted out by organisers of the 'GOAT tour,' including promoter Satadru Dutta.

Political Row as Event Cut Short

The chaos forced the event to end prematurely, preventing several dignitaries from taking part, including superstar Shah Rukh Khan, former India captain Sourav Ganguly, and Chief Minister Banerjee herself.

The BJP sharply criticised the Trinamool Congress, accusing it of poor planning and politicising the event. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said, "Total embarrassment on an international stage. A global legend like Messi will see a massive public turnout and yet zero planning & very little security! CM Mamata Banerjee can't even organise or manage an event."