Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi — last week, football icon Lionel Messi embarked on a whirlwind commercial tour across India. Accompanying him were long-time teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. While the tour was ostensibly promotional in nature, it has made far more headlines due to the unprecedented chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium than for any on-field action.
The disorderly scenes have now escalated to the attention of courts and a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Investigations have unveiled startling details: Messi reportedly earned ₹89 crore for this single tour, while the total expenditure for the events was around ₹100 crore. These figures emerged following the interrogation of Shatadru Dutta, the main organiser arrested after the Kolkata incident, as confirmed by the news agency PTI.
Sources of Funds
During questioning, Dutta revealed that along with Messi’s ₹89 crore fee, ₹11 crore was paid to the Indian government as taxes. He further stated that approximately 30% of the revenue came from sponsorship deals and another 30% from ticket sales.
| Revenue Source | Amount (₹ crore) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsorship | 30 | Contribution from corporate sponsors |
| Ticket Sales | 30 | Sales from Kolkata & Hyderabad events |
| Tax Payment | 11 | Paid to Indian government |
| Bank Account Seizure | 20+ | Amount seized by SIT; under verification |
SIT officials also confiscated over ₹20 crore from Dutta’s bank account and recovered crucial documents during a recent raid at his residence.
Salt Lake Stadium: Chaos Unleashed
On 13 December, thousands of fans purchased high-priced tickets to catch a glimpse of Messi. However, upon his arrival on the field, 70–80 fans surrounded him so closely that spectators in the stands were unable to view the star. Frustrated fans reportedly began vandalising property and looting inside and outside the stadium. The situation became so precarious that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had to abandon her visit midway.
Following the incident, Shatadru Dutta was arrested at Hyderabad airport and remanded in police custody for 14 days. The state government formed an SIT, led by senior IPS officers Piyush Pandey, Javed Shamim, Supratim Sarkar, and Muralidhar, to investigate.
Security Breaches and Influence
Dutta revealed that Messi left the field earlier than planned due to excessive physical contact from fans, despite prior warnings from foreign security officials that Messi does not appreciate being touched or hugged. West Bengal’s Sports Minister Arup Biswas was repeatedly seen near Messi and faced criticism for allegedly facilitating access for relatives and associates; he has resigned pending investigation.
Authorities are now examining how such a large number of individuals gained entry to restricted areas. Dutta noted that initially only 150 ground passes were issued, but an influential individual allegedly tripled this number, taking control of access.