A grand football celebration in Kolkata turned controversial after crowd control failures, unexpected access breaches and financial revelations surfaced, leading to an official investigation into security lapses, organiser conduct and the handling of one of the costliest sports appearances in India.
Kolkata event ended early due to crowd mismanagement.
Kolkata: The visit of one of footballs most admired figures to India was expected to be a landmark moment for fans in Kolkata. The event was organised at the Salt Lake Stadium and drew enormous attention from supporters who travelled from different regions to witness the global icon in person. With premium tickets sold in large numbers, the programme was positioned as a prestigious celebration of the sport in the city.
Despite months of preparation, the situation at the Kolkata venue quickly became difficult to manage. The programme was designed with strict movement plans and limited access to the ground area. However, as the event unfolded, those arrangements began to collapse. The crowd on the field grew larger than expected, affecting visibility for spectators seated in the stands.
Investigators later revealed that the football legend was unhappy with repeated physical contact during his appearance in Kolkata. He reportedly did not appreciate being touched on the back or hugged while moving around the field. Foreign security officials responsible for his protection had communicated these concerns in advance, stressing the importance of maintaining personal space at all times.
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Repeated public announcements were made inside the stadium requesting people to restrain themselves and follow security instructions. These warnings had little effect. The footballer was surrounded closely by individuals on the ground, creating an environment that his security team found unacceptable. As a result, his presence at the Kolkata stadium was cut short.
During the programme, a senior state minister was seen standing very close to the footballer for most of the time. Visuals from the Kolkata event showed the minister posing for photographs while holding the star around the waist. This sparked criticism and allegations that personal influence was used to grant access to restricted areas meant to be tightly controlled.
As public scrutiny intensified, the minister resigned from the sports portfolio pending completion of the investigation. The move came as questions grew about whether relatives and acquaintances were allowed onto the field during the Kolkata event, contributing to the breakdown of crowd management and security discipline.
The main organiser, who has since been arrested, informed investigators that only 150 ground passes were initially approved for the Kolkata programme. According to his statement, the number of passes increased significantly after the arrival of a very influential individual who overpowered the original plan. This sudden change allegedly disturbed the entire flow of the event and made crowd control impossible.
During questioning, the organiser disclosed major financial details related to the India tour. He stated that the football icon was paid Rs 89 crore for the visit, while Rs 11 crore was paid as tax, bringing the total expenditure to Rs 100 crore. Sponsors contributed roughly thirty percent of the cost, with another thirty percent generated through ticket sales, including those sold for the Kolkata event.
Investigators also discovered over Rs 20 crore in frozen bank accounts linked to the organiser. Several documents were seized during raids at his residence. He claimed that the funds were earned through ticket sales in Kolkata and other cities along with sponsor payments. Authorities are now verifying these claims to establish the exact financial trail.
Thousands of fans who attended the Kolkata programme expressed frustration after failing to get a clear view of the football star due to the chaos on the field. Many had paid high prices expecting a well managed experience. Following the event, anger spilled over as parts of the stadium were damaged, turning a celebration into a public relations setback.
A Special Investigation Team comprising senior officers has been formed to examine the vandalism, security lapses and access violations at the Kolkata stadium. The team is also looking into the roles of organisers and officials involved. The findings are expected to influence how major international sporting events are managed in India going forward.
