Kolkata, West Bengal Sports Minister Nisith Pramanik on Tuesday hinted at an investigation into the controversial Lionel Messi episode at the Salt Lake Stadium, and alleged that sports in the state had suffered due to politicisation and VIP culture under the previous TMC regime.
After taking charge of the sports department, Pramanik said he sought the files related to the incident, indicating a possible probe into the role of organisers and officials linked to the fiasco.
The Messi controversy surrounds the chaos at the stadium in December last year, where thousands of fans, many of whom had bought expensive tickets, were unable to watch the football legend due to overcrowding, alleged VIP interference and security lapses. A section of spectators later vandalised parts of the stadium.
The then sports minister Aroop Biswas came under intense criticism after visuals showed him and several VIPs surrounding Messi on the field, triggering allegations that political interference and unrestricted access disrupted the event.
“It was a very sad episode. I have asked for the file, and if required, I will speak to the chief minister ,” he said.
“We will attempt to do something so that the pain of the Messi episode is overcome,” Pramanik told reporters.
The Messi event’s organiser Satadru Dutta later alleged that pressure was exerted on him for special access passes and blamed political interference for the collapse of crowd management.
Public outrage over the fiasco had forced Biswas to resign from the sports portfolio to facilitate what he described as an “unbiased investigation”.
Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee subsequently apologised to fans and ordered a probe into the incident.
Without naming Biswas directly, Pramanik on Tuesday attacked the previous administration, saying, “The erstwhile government sabotaged everything from law and order. Politics and sports cannot be mixed, and sports will not be politicised. Nepotism will not be allowed.”
The minister said the new dispensation would work to restore professionalism and transparency in the state’s sports administration.
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