West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas Resigns After Chaos at Lionel Messi Event in Kolkata

West Bengal Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Aroop Biswas resigned from his post on Tuesday following widespread criticism over large-scale mismanagement at a high-profile football event featuring global icon Lionel Messi in Kolkata. The resignation comes amid mounting political pressure and public outrage over the chaotic scenes witnessed at the programme, which was attended by thousands of fans.

The event, held at the Salt Lake Stadium as part of Messi’s India visit, was intended to be a celebratory occasion for football enthusiasts in the state. However, it quickly descended into disorder due to poor crowd control, inadequate security arrangements and organisational lapses. Many ticket-holders complained that they were unable to see Messi despite paying premium prices, leading to anger, protests and incidents of vandalism inside the stadium premises.

In his resignation letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Biswas said he was stepping down to ensure a fair and unbiased investigation into the circumstances that led to the chaos. He stated that public confidence in the administration was paramount and that accountability was necessary in the wake of the incident. The Chief Minister accepted his resignation and assumed direct charge of the sports department.

Following the fallout, the state government ordered an official inquiry into the handling of the event. Show-cause notices were issued to senior police and administrative officials responsible for security and crowd management. Authorities have also registered cases related to vandalism and are questioning event organisers to determine responsibility for the lapses.

The incident triggered sharp political reactions, with opposition parties accusing the state government of administrative failure and demanding stricter action against those responsible. Calls for refunds to disappointed spectators and a transparent probe have grown louder, while several legal petitions have been filed seeking judicial intervention into the matter.

Football fans across the city expressed deep disappointment, saying the event had raised expectations that were not met due to poor planning. Social media was flooded with videos showing overcrowded stands, broken barricades and confused spectators, further intensifying criticism of the organisers and authorities. While Aroop Biswas is expected to continue in the state cabinet in a different capacity, his resignation from the sports ministry marks a significant political development.