Months after football icon Lionel Messi’s much-publicised appearance at Salt Lake Stadium descended into controversy, fresh allegations have emerged over what reportedly went wrong behind the scenes.
According to multiple reports, representatives of Messi have submitted a letter to the Bidhannagar Police Commissioner, alleging serious breaches of agreed protocols during the event held at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in December 2025. The letter reportedly identifies former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas as one of the individuals whose actions contributed to the chaos that unfolded on the day.
The claims have surfaced amid an ongoing investigation into crowd management and security lapses that marred the Argentine superstar’s visit, an event that had generated immense excitement among football fans across India.
According to reports, Messi’s team stated that strict arrangements had been agreed upon before the event, including clear limits on the number of people permitted on the field during the footballer’s appearance.
However, the letter reportedly claims that these arrangements were not followed.
Messi’s representatives allege that a large number of unauthorised individuals gained access to the playing area, including photographers, camera operators and others who were not part of the approved list. The situation, they claim, disrupted the event schedule and created concerns regarding the footballer’s security and personal space.
The letter further alleges that certain actions by Aroop Biswas were not part of the agreed programme and contributed to the breakdown of event protocols.
While the allegations have attracted significant attention, there has been no official public response from Biswas regarding the claims at the time of reporting.
Messi’s visit to Kolkata on 13 December 2025 was among the most anticipated sporting events of the year. Thousands of fans gathered at Salt Lake Stadium hoping to catch a glimpse of the World Cup-winning captain.
However, the event ended earlier than expected.
According to the reported letter, concerns over crowd control and the increasing number of people entering restricted areas forced organisers to cancel portions of the planned programme. Messi’s team allegedly decided to leave the venue earlier than scheduled as the situation became increasingly difficult to manage.
The premature conclusion of the event triggered frustration among spectators, many of whom had paid substantial amounts to attend.
Videos circulating on social media at the time showed scenes of unrest inside the stadium, with sections of the crowd expressing anger over the abrupt end to the programme. Reports also emerged of vandalism and damage to property following the disruption.
The latest revelations have once again brought the spotlight onto security arrangements for high-profile international sporting events in India.
Crowd management experts have long emphasised the importance of maintaining strict access control around globally recognised athletes, particularly figures such as Messi, whose appearances attract extraordinary public interest.
According to the allegations, the failure to enforce agreed access restrictions not only disrupted the event’s schedule but also compromised security protocols designed to protect the footballer and ensure the smooth conduct of the programme.
The reported concerns raised by Messi’s representatives are now expected to form part of the broader examination of what transpired at the stadium.
The controversy has also become a key point in the defence mounted by event promoter Satadru Dutta.
According to reports, Dutta has referred to the letter from Messi’s representatives while contesting allegations against him. He has argued that the document supports his claim that he was not responsible for the security breakdown and that he was unfairly made a “scapegoat” for failures that occurred during the event.
The matter remains under investigation, with authorities continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the disruption of one of India’s most anticipated sporting appearances.
Also read | Kangpokpi football body slams militant tag on injured player