Messi unhappy with hugs as Kolkata chaos prompts SIT probe
Messi unhappy with hugs as Kolkata chaos prompts SIT probe
Organiser tells SIT Messi disliked being hugged; security gaps and crowd access at Salt Lake Stadium spark investigations.
The main organiser of Lionel Messi's GOAT India tour in Kolkata on December 13, Satadru Dutta, faced prolonged questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the chaos that unfolded at the Salt Lake Stadium. During the inquiry, Dutta told officers that Messi was unhappy with being touched or hugged and had left much earlier than planned. He also said the footballer did not like being touched on the back or hugged, a concern reportedly communicated in advance by the foreign security officials safeguarding him. Despite repeated public announcements to restrain the crowd, security measures did not prevent the surrounding and embracing of Messi, which Dutta described as completely unacceptable to the player.
The SIT is examining how such a large number of people gained access or were allowed into the ground area during the event. Messi's 22-minute visit, followed by chaos as politicians, police, VIPs, and their entourages surrounded him and his Inter Miami teammates, led to the crowd not seeing the star and later vandalising parts of the stadium. The West Bengal government has set up a SIT team comprising senior IPS officers to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, reports noted the financial aspects of the tour, with claims that Messi was reportedly paid around Rs 89 crore for the stay, including tax components. Investigations into security lapses and financial dealings are ongoing. Another report suggested that an influential person may have disrupted crowd control plans, allowing unauthorized access, a claim that is part of the broader inquiry into what went wrong that day.
