‘Made scapegoat,’ says Messi In tour organiser after filing complaint against ex-Bengal sports minister
The chief organiser of Lionel Messi's 'GOAT Tour' in India has filed a complaint against former West Bengal sports minister Arup Biswas, alleging misconduct during the event. The complaint follows chaotic scenes at the Kolkata stadium during Messi's appearance, where fans expressed frustration over limited access and visibility. The organiser claims he was made a scapegoat for the event's mismanagement and plans to pursue legal action against Biswas.
- ▪The complaint alleges that Arup Biswas interfered with event management and misused tickets.
- ▪The organiser, Satadru Dutta, claims he was threatened regarding access cards and faced unauthorized entries at the venue.
- ▪New West Bengal sports minister Nisith Pramanik has called for an investigation into the incident.
2 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 2 hours. All of the coverage we found sits in one bucket: lean left. That one-sidedness is itself worth noticing.
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‘Made scapegoat,’ says Messi In tour organiser after filing complaint against ex-Bengal sports ministerLionel Messi’s appearance at Kolkata last year turned chaotic despite being one of the most anticipated stops of his GOAT tour.Updated on: May 19, 2026 11:16 AM ISTEdited by Anita GoswamiShare viaCopy link The chief organiser of Lionel Messi’s ‘GOAT Tour’ in India has filed a complaint against former West Bengal sports minister Arup Biswas alleging misconduct and irregularities during the high-profile event last year. The complaint comes owing to chaotic scenes at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in December 2025 during the football icon’s appearance.Lionel Messi was in India last year as part of his GOAT tour.
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