What did Lionel Messi’s team say on chaos during Kolkata tour? Organiser Satadru Dutta not responsible for lapses, claims email

Football icon Lionel Messi’s team has backed event organiser Satadru Dutta in connection with the chaotic December 13 event at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, stating that the organiser was not responsible for the security lapses or the programme being cut short.

In an email sent to Bidhannagar Police on Wednesday, Messi’s team said the early termination of the event was necessitated by serious breaches of security and protocol.

“In my opinion the unfortunate decision to have to terminate the event early was not in the control of the event promoter, Mr. Satadru Dutta, and he was not responsible for this. Rather, it was a precautionary measure necessitated by the breach of event protocol and security arrangements on the ground by parties that were not part of the original event plan," read the email sent by Lionel Messi’s team.

The event descended into chaos after Messi left the stadium within 15 minutes of arriving. Frustrated fans, many of whom had travelled from across the country and paid high ticket prices, vandalised parts of the stadium after failing to get a clear view of the football icon.

Dutta was arrested following the incident, even as other stops of the GOAT India Tour in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi were conducted smoothly.

The email forms part of an ongoing investigation triggered by a complaint filed by Dutta with Bidhannagar Police. In his complaint, he alleged criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, cheating and extortion.

Former West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas has been summoned by police three times but has skipped each appearance, citing health reasons. The Calcutta High Court has granted him interim protection from coercive action until August 17. However, the court directed him to cooperate with the investigation, surrender his passport and not leave the city without prior permission.

Messi’s team also stated that Biswas’s presence on the field was not in accordance with the approved protocol.

“During Mr Messi's appearance at the stadium, the approved protocol of there being no dignitaries on the field and allowing only three camera operators was disrupted when the then Sports Minister entered the field of play and became involved in activities that were not part of the scheduled programme. This included repeated unscheduled interactions and physical contact with Mr Messi. including placing hands on his shoulder and around his waist for photographs," the letter states.

Photographs and video footage from the event show Biswas hugging Messi and holding him around the waist. The Calcutta High Court had also taken note of the images, describing them as a breach of the football legend’s security and questioning whether Biswas was Messi’s “childhood friend”.

The email further alleged that the former minister’s actions contributed to a wider breakdown of security arrangements.

“These actions, together with the presence of several other unauthorised individuals and approximately 40 unaccredited photographers and camera operators in restricted areas, disrupted the agreed events planned for the visit and created concerns regarding Mr Messi's security, comfort, and personal space and made it impossible for him to interact with the events and individuals planned on the stadium field,” it added.

The letter says the presence of unauthorised individuals and media personnel in restricted areas disrupted the planned schedule and prevented Messi from participating in the activities that had been arranged for him on the field.

The incident caused significant embarrassment for the state government. A major security breach was witnessed as unauthorised persons crowded around Messi on the field, prompting concerns about his safety. Following the disorder and damage to stadium property, then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised publicly for the chaos.