All posts tagged: goat tour

‘Made scapegoat,’ says Messi In tour organiser after filing complaint against ex-Bengal sports minister

‘Made scapegoat,’ says Messi In tour organiser after filing complaint against ex-Bengal sports minister

Published by Parlour News

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. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT) Satadru Dutta has accused the ex-minister of interfering in event management and misusing tickets during the Kolkata leg of the event. He claimed to unfairly have been made a “scapegoat” for lapses in organisation. Dutta plans to pursue legal action, including a ₹50 crore damages claim and a separate defamation suit. “The sports minister Arup Biswas, who took tickets from me, I suspect he sold them in the black. He subjected me to severe threats regarding the issuance of access cards,” Dutta told news agency ANI. He also alleged that despite refusing to issue certain access cards under pressure, there were still unauthorised entries at the venue. “Even …

Opinion: Cricket, Bollywood prevail while Sunil Chhetri took backseat at Messi’s GOAT Tour

Opinion: Cricket, Bollywood prevail while Sunil Chhetri took backseat at Messi’s GOAT Tour

Published by Webster

Messi came, saw two different sides of Indian hospitality, Messi conquered… Well maybe just about! Even as domestic football in India is going through its bleakest period in decades, Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour of Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi offered a glimpse of the fandom that the sport, and some of its biggest stars still enjoy in the country. Messi visits Kolkata, again The global football icon, hailed by many as the greatest player of all time, landed at the Netaji Subhash International Airport in Kolkata in the early hours of 13th November. It was his second trip to the City of Joy, having played an international match against Venezuela way back in 2010, which was also his first for his country as captain. And Kolkata didn’t disappoint, at least not at first. He unveiled a 70-ft statue of himself, something that has since found mention in global football pages for resembling the World Cup winner quite accurately. It that doesn’t happen very often with footballers (just ask Cristiano Ronaldo or David Beckham). But it …

West Bengal sports minister Arup Biswas resigns after Messi tour scandal

West Bengal sports minister Arup Biswas resigns after Messi tour scandal

Published by Webster

The West Bengal sports minister Arup Biswas tendered his resignation from the post following the mismanagement scandal which broke out at the Lionel Messi GOAT Tour in Kolkata last week. As per reports, the state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepted the resignation and will hold the portfolio herself until a new minister is appointed. The ruling government in West Bengal has been under fire since chaos erupted at the event on December 13. Fans were seen clashing with the state police in the stadium after they failed to catch any glimpse of Messi, who was surrounded by administrators and politicians including Biswas during his visit to the city. Messi was also reportedly unhappy with how the event panned out and cut his stay short at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Disclaimer: We do not own any of the content, ideas, images, or text presented here. All rights belong to their respective owners. For more information and to view the original source, please visit the following link: Source link

Messi’s tour organiser sent to 14-day police custody over ‘mismanagement’ after chaos at Kolkata stadium

Messi’s tour organiser sent to 14-day police custody over ‘mismanagement’ after chaos at Kolkata stadium

Published by Parlour News

A North 24 Parganas district court on Sunday sent Satadru Dutta, the organiser of Lionel Messi’s “GOAT Tour” in West Bengal, to 14-day police custody, a day after fan outrage during the event at Salt Lake Stadium led to chaos and vandalism, even as the political slugfest over the incident continued between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Angry fans vandalise the Salt Lake Stadium, alleging poor management during Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s G.O.A.T India Tour 2025 in Kolkata on Saturday. (Utpal Sarkar) Dutta was arrested on Saturday, hours after Messi kicked off his four-city tour across India in Kolkata. The Argentine World Cup-winning captain’s brief appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium descended into chaos as angry fans resorted to vandalism over alleged mismanagement and VIPs blocking their view of the football icon. Dutta, who was arrested for alleged mismanagement, was produced before the Bidhannagar court, and remanded in police custody for 14 days. His lawyer Dyutimoy Bhattarcharya later said that his client was innocent and that he was …

Hyderabad leg of Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour of India goes uneventfully after Kolkata chaos | Football News

Hyderabad leg of Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour of India goes uneventfully after Kolkata chaos | Football News

Published by Webster

Fans in India finally got to have a good look at Lionel Messi in the second leg of his GOAT Tour of India as the Argentina football great’s event at the Uppal Stadium in Hyderabad went without incident, in stark contrast to what was the case earlier on Saturday in Kolkata. Messi, along with his teammates and friends, Uruguay superstar Luis Suarez and Argentina’s Rodrigo de Paul, spent over an hour in the middle, playing kickabouts with children and walking around the stadium. They also kicked footballs into the crowd for people to carry home as souvenirs. The scenes that were broadcast and streamed across the country on Saturday evening was in stark contrast to what happened in the morning in Kolkata, where the first leg of the Argentina captain’s tour of India descended into chaos. Messi arrived in Hyderabad around 5:40pm and was received at the Taj Falaknuma Palace by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Sporting a green colour crew neck half sleeve T-shirt, a black pant and a pair of sport shoes, the …

Lionel Messi’s itinerary in Hyderabad revealed after chaos in Kolkata event which led to vandalism from angry fans | Football News

Lionel Messi’s itinerary in Hyderabad revealed after chaos in Kolkata event which led to vandalism from angry fans | Football News

Published by Webster

Hyderabad will be the second stop on footballing superstar Lionel Messi’s trip to India as he was scheduled to land in the Telangana capital in the afternoon. He will have a packed schedule in Hyderabad before he leaves for the final two cities on his GOAT Tour trip: Mumbai and New Delhi. The event in Kolkata saw chaos after fans invaded the pitch and threw projectiles after being left angry at Messi’s short stay in the middle. After the vandalism encountered at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, where fans also invaded the pitch and tired to burn the sofas for VIPs, the superstar flew to Hyderabad. But the event in Telangana will be a much better managed event, assured Shiva Sena Reddy, the Chairman of Sports Authority of Telangana. Reddy assured fans, via an interview with news agency PTI, that Lionel Messi’s Hyderabad appearance will be conducted smoothly. “Today there will be a small 20-minute friendly game between Messi and CM’s XIs. It will be followed by Messi holding a football clinic for young players. I would …

AIFF on Lionel Messi’s event in Kolkata: ‘AIFF was not involved, was private event organised by PR agency’ | Football News

AIFF on Lionel Messi’s event in Kolkata: ‘AIFF was not involved, was private event organised by PR agency’ | Football News

Published by Webster

Lionel Messi’s short trip to Kolkata ended with angry fans invading the pitch and throwing projectiles like chairs and bottles onto the pitch at Salt Lake Stadium after the Argentine superstar made a short 20-minute appearance on the pitch while being flanked by over a hundred people, including security forces and VIPs. Ugly scenes from the venue showed fans vandalising sofas at the venue for VIPs and even trying to light a fire in the stadium. In the aftermath, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee apologised to Messi via X and ordered an enquiry commission. The chief organiser of the event Satadru Dutta was also arrested from the airport by the Kolkata police. FOLLOW LIVE | Lionel Messi India GOAT Tour Updates: Messi to arrive in Hyderabad after Kolkata chaos; CM Mamata Banerjee orders enquiry, apologises to star Fans pose amidst the ruins of banners and chairs during the Kolkata leg of Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour inside the Salt Lake Stadium. (Express Photo by Partha Paul) As anger continues to simmer in Kolkata, the All …

Footballer Lionel Messi India Visit Goat Tour in Kolkata

Footballer Lionel Messi India Visit Goat Tour in Kolkata

Published by Parlour News

Lionel Messi India GOAT Tour Live Updates: The Argentina football legend is set to arrive at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata today. (Express Photo by Partha Paul) Lionel Messi India GOAT Tour Live Updates: Football fever is reaching a crescendo in India as the nation prepares for a high-profile, three-day “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) tour featuring Lionel Messi. From Saturday to Monday, the legendary forward will visit Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi for a whirlwind schedule of exhibition matches, VIP meet-and-greets, and interactions with aspiring young athletes. The excitement is amplified by the news that Messi won’t be alone; sources indicate he will be joined by his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez and fellow Argentine international Rodrigo De Paul. Story continues below this ad The tour kicks off in Kolkata today, a city already transformed into a sea of “celeste” blue and white. On the eve of his arrival, the streets were packed with fans sporting Messi jerseys, signaling a massive homecoming for the global icon. SCROLL BELOW FOR THE LATEST UPDATES FROM …