Messi event chaos: 6,000 additional VIP passes issued, 500 extra people allowed on pitch; safety concerns raised

KOLKATA: More than 500 extra ‘field of play’ (FOP) passes, which allow entry into the pitch, were issued for Saturday’s Lionel Messi programme at Salt Lake stadium, against the initially decided 212, a police probe into the vandalism and violence during the event has revealed.


Around 6,000 additional complimentary passes were distributed “through political channels” to those who were keen on a closer view of the Argentine football icon. The passes were for seats just behind the fences separating the pitch from the stands.




Investigations by the detective department of Bidhannagar City Police have revealed that most of the FOP and complementary passes were distributed at the last minute. Many of the passes had stamps of ‘govt departments’, sources said.


Officers involved in the probe are trying to find out exactly how many extra passes were issued and on whose orders. Though the Bidhannagar Police brass claimed they were in the dark about the guest list, the probe found that multiple passes were countersigned by cops themselves.


As soon as Messi entered the pitch on Saturday, a swelling crowd of celebrities and officials surrounded him, denying fans on the stands even a fleeting glimpse of their star. Many in the unruly group pushed and shoved the footballer for a selfie, triggering a security scare that prompted Messi to leave much before schedule. Soon after, mayhem descended on the stadium.


Police have summoned six persons linked to the event for questioning. “Satadru Dutta (the organiser of Lionel Messi’s India tour) is evading most of our questions. He is saying his event management company had little say in decision-making, So, we have summoned six persons on Tuesday. Among them are employees of Dutta’s company and the private firm that was hired to secure the venue, as well as those who were contracted to supply water and food,” an officer said.


“No permission was given to sell bottled water inside the stadium. We are investigating how bottles entered the stadium post-midnight,” the officer said.


Once chaos engulfed the stadium following Messi’s abrupt departure, many fans vented their ire by throwing bottles into the pitch. Police came under criticism for their “failure” to prevent the entry of bottled water into the stadium, though such items were banned on the stands.


Sources said Dutta, in police custody, is being questioned on the number of tickets sold, complimentary passes issued, the process of issuing tenders for the event and whether there was a “vetted plan” on Messi’s movement.


On Sunday, police had submitted in a Bidhannagar court that Messi’s security was managed by central forces and a private security agency hired by Dutta's event management team.