The drama unfolded during Kolkata edition of GOAT Tour of India 2025 by Lionel Messi, followed by the fiasco, once again proved that truly, Bengal thinks differently! With the series of events getting reported on media every day, it is hard to believe that a structured administration under an elected government is running this state, such is the anarchy. A player as famous as the stature of Lio Messi, when starts his India tour opening from our city, it is a matter of great prestige and pride for us. Kolkata, vide its rich heritage of football for which it is often referred as Mecca of Indian football has earn this honour and glory which goes back to British era. Football and Kolkata literally become synonymous where spectators aka fans are the ultimate driving force behind the inspiration of a player. In Indian football, it is said that, as an Indian football player the highest recognition is to display your soccer skills in front of Kolkata crowd and get appreciated.
On 13th December, 2025, in Vivekananda Yuba Bharti Krirangan, sports lovers across the globe witnessed something, which, as Kolkatan made us ashamed beyond imagination. Impropriety of a bunch of irresponsible and careless people, mostly politicians and their clans along with film stars and high chaired administrative people literally deprived 60+ K fans present in the stadium just a glimpse of Messi. Tickets were sold for Messi show, hailed as football god in this part of the world. But what did they see? Shameless exhibition of chaotic gathering of people in such extent, where team Messi (including Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul) were not to be found. Reportedly, people bought tickets paying double the price of original rate, such was the frenzy. Same goes for snack also. Drinking water bottles, otherwise prohibited for security reasons was sold abundantly with exorbitant price. It is hard to believe that all these things were not known to Police authorities. Spectators took that into their stride only for the sake of the show, but when even after all these they were deprived of Messi Show, naturally become furious and turned into a mob. They started vandalising the stadium and its properties in uncontrolled manner. On top it, the chaos on the pitch reached to such extent that uncomfortable and annoyed team Messi was forced to leave the stadium for security reasons. Our Honourable Chief Minister was to return midway from the stadium. The worse part in this entire fiasco was the role of the police authorities. They were seemingly clueless and did not have any course of action apart from being ruthless towards the spectators.
The worst part of this entire fiasco was that the entire episode was live on air, not throwing up a rosy picture about our state and the administration to say the least. To add salt to the injury, on the same day and followed by next day, team Messi visited other cities of the Country and smoothly conducted their itinerary as pre-scheduled in hassle free manner. Now, the big question is who is responsible for this catastrophe. Political tug of war has already been started as usual, where everyone is blaming the others. The question is fading away as to how monetary refund will be organised to the spectators present that day, neither from the organisers nor from Government. Since the stadium is property of Government and arrangements of security falls under their purview, they cannot shy away from responsibility. Whole of the world seen how the sports minister behaved that day, being relieved from his post, seems like merely eye wash and a desperate attempt to slide the issue under the carpet.
Once more, image of our state getting more tarnished after the debacle of education and health scam.
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