Messi Visit Mess: Ganguly Takes Legal Action Over False Claims

The fallout from Lionel Messi’s brief and controversial visit to Kolkata has intensified into a legal and administrative crisis, with former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly issuing a ₹50 crore defamation notice against a football fan club official for allegedly making unfounded claims about his role in the event.

Messi’s much-publicised appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium lasted just 22 minutes, disappointing nearly 50,000 fans who had filled the venue. Ticket prices reportedly ranged from ₹4,000 to ₹12,000, with some spectators paying up to ₹20,000 through unofficial channels. Although Messi arrived to loud applause alongside Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, the atmosphere quickly deteriorated as politicians, VIPs, security personnel, and aides crowded around the football star, limiting fan engagement.

Repeated attempts by organisers to control the situation—including emotional appeals by promoter Satadru Dutta over the public address system—failed to calm the crowd. After Messi exited the venue prematurely, frustration erupted into chaos, with spectators throwing bottles, damaging temporary structures, tearing out seats, and vandalising stadium property. The disorder reportedly continued for nearly 90 minutes.

The controversy deepened when Uttam Saha of the ‘Argentina Football Fan Club’ publicly alleged that Ganguly was the real organiser of Messi’s India tour, claiming that Dutta—now arrested—was only a front. Ganguly strongly denied the allegations, filing a complaint with the Kolkata Police Cyber Cell and serving Saha a ₹50 crore legal notice. He described the statements as “baseless and defamatory,” saying they had harmed his reputation built over decades as a sportsperson and administrator.

The incident has also prompted significant administrative action. The West Bengal government issued show-cause notices to senior police officials, including the DGP and the Bidhannagar Police Commissioner, and suspended a deputy commissioner for alleged negligence. Officials from the Youth Affairs and Sports Department and the Salt Lake Stadium administration have also faced disciplinary measures.

Originally scheduled to felicitate Messi alongside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Ganguly’s participation was cancelled following the unrest. What was meant to be a landmark sporting celebration has now become a stark reminder of how lapses in planning, crowd control, and accountability can quickly turn marquee events into crises.