AIFF Issues Statement After Lionel Messi Commotion in Kolkata, Appeals to Fans
Legendary football player Lionel Messi, who was on a three-day visit to India, arrived at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on December 13th, where a large number of fans were present to see him.
Ankush Pandey
Legendary football player Lionel Messi, who is on a three-day visit to India, began his Goat India Tour in Kolkata. Upon arriving there on December 13th, he was scheduled to attend an event at the Salt Lake Stadium. However, Messi arrived at the event but left shortly afterward.
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This angered thousands of fans at the stadium who were eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of him, leading to a chaotic situation. Now, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has issued a statement regarding the incident, appealing to the fans for calm.
We appeal to the fans to maintain peace.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF), in a statement issued after the commotion at the event held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata during Lionel Messi's India tour, said that the federation is deeply concerned about the incidents that took place at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, where thousands of fans had gathered to see football stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Rodrigo De Paul.
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This was a private event organized by a PR agency. The AIFF was not involved in any way in the organization, planning, or execution of this event. Furthermore, the AIFF was neither informed about the event nor was any permission sought from the federation. We appeal to all the fans who were present at the stadium to cooperate in maintaining peace, as the safety of everyone involved should be our top priority.
Safety and security remain our top priority for all.#IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/pOUPJ7IXCs
— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) December 13, 2025
Main organizer arrested
Following the chaos at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered a high-level inquiry into the entire incident. The main organizer of the event, Shatadru Dutta, has been arrested.
It has also been decided that fans who purchased tickets to attend the event at the stadium will receive a full refund. Meanwhile, Messi will now participate in an event scheduled for the evening of December 13th at the Uppal Stadium in Hyderabad.
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