West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned on Tuesday as the Mamata Banerjee government moved swiftly to contain fallout from the chaotic Lionel Messi event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on December 13 that triggered widespread criticism against the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Chief Minister Banerjee accepted the resignation and will personally hold the sports portfolio. Biswas, a senior TMC leader, will continue as Power Minister.
The state government issued show-cause notices to Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, known as a close confidante of the Chief Minister, and senior police officer Aneesh Sarkar. Dev Kumar Nandan, Chief Executive Officer of Yuva Bharati Krirangan stadium, was removed from his post.
Sports Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh also received a show-cause notice as the administration sought accountability across departments responsible for the event.
The Argentine football icon appeared at the G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025 event but left abruptly after spectators broke fences and barricades, vandalizing stadium infrastructure. Angry ticket-holders who paid premium prices stormed the field after failing to catch a glimpse of Messi, who remained surrounded by organisers, politicians, dignitaries, and security personnel.
Banerjee posted an apology to Messi on X for the chaos. She constituted a high-level inquiry committee headed by retired Calcutta High Court Justice Ashim Kumar Ray to investigate the mismanagement.
The incident embarrassed the state government and raised questions about event planning, crowd management, and security arrangements at one of India’s largest stadiums.
