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BJP National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday blamed the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government in West Bengal for the "mismanagement" of the GOAT India tour of Football Icon Lionel Messi at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Referring to the chaos that erupted at Salt Lake Stadium, Shehzad Poonawalla questioned the administration, police, and security. He also alleged "black marketing" of the tickets. "Today, the TMC has become a symbol of complete mismanagement and chaos... A great player like Messi came to India, and his entire event at the Kolkata stadium was ruined. The TMC is entirely responsible for this. The administration, police, and security were nowhere to be seen... I've been told that tickets were even being sold on the black market... If a stampede like the one in Bengaluru had occurred there, who would have been responsible?" he said. Messi's Kolkata leg of the GOAT Tour descended into chaos on Saturday as fans who paid high ticket prices at Salt Lake Stadium's event began throwing bottles and attempting to break the gates between the stands after the Argentine legend left early. Angry fans resorted to vandalism at the Kolkata stadium, alleging poor event management and criticising VIPs and politicians for 'hogging' the football icon's attention and time to the extent that fans did not even get a glimpse of Messi. The situation escalated when angry fans attempted to enter the ground to vandalise the tent and the goal post. To control the situation, police personnel used mild force to disperse the angry crowd from the ground. West Bengal police has arrested the organiser of Lionel Messi's GOAT Tour event for mismanagement of the event. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also apologised to fans after Messi's Kolkata event turned into chaos. "I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi. I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident," Mamta Banerjee wrote on X.(ANI)
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