Fiasco during Messi tour: Police issues summons to ex-Bengali Sports Minister

Police on Tuesday issued a summons to former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas asking him to appear before the officer in connection with last year’s ‘Messi fiasco’ at the Salt Lake Stadium.

He was summoned days after Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s India Tour organizer Satadru Dutta, who was arrested in connection with the incident during the TMC regime, filed a police complaint against Biswas, alleging malpractice in the distribution of tickets for the event and harassment.

Biwas, a TMC leader, was asked to appear before the investigating officers of Bidhannagar Dakshin police station on June 5, the police officer said.

“The police officers investigating the case should question Aroop Biswas in connection with a complaint we received in connection with the Messi incident,” he told PTI.

Dutta, the chief organizer of Messi’s India Tour, on Saturday filed an FIR against Biswas for extortion, criminal intimidation, diversion and sale of free tickets, accreditation cards and entry passes for the incident that took place at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13 last year.

West Bengal Sports Minister Nisith Pramanik last month indicated that the BJP government could investigate the “Messi fiasco”.

The event at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, 2025 had descended into chaos after a large number of people entered the venue, allegedly without valid entry, leading to security breaches and crowd disorder.

Many spectators who had bought expensive tickets complained that they could not see Messi properly and enjoy the program due to overcrowding and mismanagement.

Messi quickly left the ground amid the commotion, after which sections of angry spectators vandalized parts of the stadium.

The controversy had created a political storm at the time, with fingers pointed at then Sports Minister Aroop Biswas for alleged lapses in planning and crowd management.

Published on June 2, 2026