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Messi Tour Chaos: Why Mamata Banerjee Takes Direct Control of Sports Ministry

Following the chaotic scenes at Lionel Messi's Kolkata event, West Bengal's Sports Minister has resigned. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has now personally taken charge of the sports department pending an impartial inquiry. A high-level SIT has been formed to investigate the serious lapses in event management. The fallout includes a notice to the state police chief and widespread criticism from angry fans.

Key Points: Mamata Banerjee Takes Charge of Sports After Minister Resigns

  • Minister Aroop Biswas resigned amid a probe into the chaotic Lionel Messi event in Kolkata
  • A Special Investigation Team of IPS officers has been formed to conduct a thorough inquiry
  • The DGP has been served notice to explain the mismanagement and lapses within 24 hours
  • The event saw fan vandalism over poor management and VIPs allegedly hogging Messi's time
2 min read

Messi Tour Chaos: Mamata Banerjee takes charge of state sports after minister resigns

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee assumes direct control of the sports ministry after the minister's resignation over the chaotic Lionel Messi event in Kolkata.

"until and unless the impartial inquiry is over, the Sports Department will be looked after by me for the time being. - Official CM Statement"

Kolkata, December 16

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken charge of the state's sports ministry, following the resignation of cabinet minister Aroop Biswas, who stepped down from his role amid a probe into the chaos that erupted during Lionel Messi's appearance at a Kolkata stadium.

Accepting her minister's resignation, an official statement from the CM read that "until and unless the impartial inquiry is over, the Sports Department will be looked after by me for the time being."

"As per the enclosed letter, I appreciate the sentiment and intention of the Sports Minister to offer a relief from the Sports Department for the sake of impartial inquiry into the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) incident on December 13, 2025," according to an official statement from the state government.

Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned from his post on Tuesday following the chaos that erupted during Footballer Messi's GOAT India Tour in Kolkata. Chief Minister Banerjee accepted Biswas' resignation.

The state government also informed that a Special Investigation Team comprising IPS officers Piyush Pandey, Javed Shamim, Supratim Sarkar and Muralidhar has been constituted to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

The government has already served notice to Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, ordering him to "clarify within 24 hours of communication on why such mismanagement and lapses happened in the stadium on the day and why proper coordination with concerned stakeholders, including the private organiser, was not carried out so as to ensure smooth conduct of the event."

Messi's Kolkata appearance, the first stop of the GOAT Tour 2025, ended in chaos. What was meant to be a celebration of the World Cup-winning superstar with a football-loving state turned chaotic as VIPs and politicians on the pitch allegedly sparked fan frustration, with many attendees claiming they could hardly see the footballer they had paid to watch.

Angry fans resorted to vandalism at the Kolkata stadium, alleging poor event management and criticising VIPs and politicians for hogging the football icon's attention and time to the extent that fans did not even get a glimpse of Messi.

Shortly after completing his iconic tour, Messi visited animal sanctuary Vantara and departed from Jamnagar, which marked his final stop, after visiting Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who attended, it was heartbreaking. We stood for hours, and then politicians occupied the entire front. Messi seemed miles away. The resignation is just the first step. The entire event management company and police coordination needs to be investigated. Fans deserve refunds.
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Arjun K
Typical Indian event management. 😤 We can't organise anything properly. From cricket matches to concerts, it's always the same story - chaos, poor planning, and VIPs getting all the privileges. Glad the CM is stepping in, but this is a systemic issue across the country.
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Priya S
While the minister resigning is good, I hope the inquiry is truly impartial. The problem wasn't just one person. The police, the organisers, and the protocol that allows VIPs to disrupt public events all need scrutiny. Let's not make a scapegoat of one minister.
K
Karthik V
Messi came all the way to India and this is how we treat our guests? And more importantly, our own people? Shameful. Bengal is known for its love of football, and this incident has tarnished that image. Hope the SIT report leads to concrete changes for future events.
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Michael C
Respectfully, while the CM taking charge looks decisive, isn't she ultimately responsible for her cabinet's performance? The buck stops with the leadership. The inquiry must be transparent and its findings made public, not just an internal exercise.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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