The event, held at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, featured football icons Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo de Paul. However, the evening ended abruptly after crowd trouble and organisational confusion forced the players to leave the venue within just 25 minutes, despite the programme being scheduled for nearly an hour.
The incident sparked outrage among fans, many of whom had purchased expensive tickets but were left disappointed as the event was cut short. Reports of overcrowding and unauthorised entry further escalated tensions, eventually leading to vandalism inside the stadium.
At the time, Aroop Biswas, who accompanied Messi during the event, faced criticism over allegations that individuals without proper registration were allowed into the stadium.
In the aftermath of the controversy, Satadru Dutta was arrested at Kolkata airport and spent 38 days in custody before being released on January 19.
Following the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, in which Biswas lost the Tollygunge seat and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) lost power, Dutta reacted strongly on social media, vowing legal action against the former minister.
“Just because you have lost in the elections, don’t think that you have been punished. I will lodge a defamation case, and if needed, will go to the Supreme Court. I will fight till the end,” Dutta wrote on Facebook Stories, as quoted by Sportstar.
He further alleged that he had repeatedly warned Biswas during the event but his concerns were ignored.
“Repeatedly, I told him not to click pictures here. But, he, using his power, went on to click photos. He will have to pay for this. He is having a laugh while his own people infiltrate. No one heard my cry of anguish. Police also stood still,” Dutta claimed.
Dutta also announced that he would soon hold a press conference to reveal more details about the incident and accused influential individuals of sabotaging the event.
“Press conference is coming soon. Everything will be exposed. You sabotaged my event. You victimised me. You made my three years of effort and perseverance go in vain. You made all the fans disappointed. You put me in jail for 38 days. Now, it’s my turn,” he wrote.
He further alleged intimidation and interference during the organisation of the programme, claiming that his team was pressured over ground access passes and that several officials deliberately disrupted operations.
The controversy surrounding Messi’s Kolkata appearance remains one of the most talked-about sporting incidents in the city, with fans still disappointed over how the high-profile event unfolded.
