Messi chaos costs minister his job: Aroop Biswas resigns after Salt Lake Stadium fiasco

Biswas, a senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, has submitted his resignation letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is yet to accept it.

"I wish to resign for the sake of an impartial probe," the minister wrote in his letter.

Biswas, who also holds two other ministerial portfolios, was seen closely accompanying Messi and two other international footballers, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.

Viral videos showed several individuals, including Biswas and his relatives, allegedly forcing selfies and photographs, leading to nearly a hundred people crowding the field and blocking spectators’ view.

The footage triggered a wave of criticism and memes online, adding to public outrage over the mismanagement of the high-profile event.

The controversy escalated last Saturday when angry spectators vandalised parts of the stadium after Messi was escorted off the field by his security team due to overcrowding, despite repeated requests for him to stay. Fans later said they felt “betrayed” by his sudden departure.

Uncertainty over Messi’s return sparked unrest, with spectators hurling plastic bottles and chairs. Barricades were broken, the field was stormed, and property inside the stadium was damaged. Two large tents erected on the field—allegedly for the comfort of dignitaries and obstructing views—were later set on fire.

Police largely exercised restraint as security forces took nearly an hour to bring the situation under control.

Following Biswas’ offer to resign, the TMC welcomed the move. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said Mamata Banerjee had acted decisively as an administrator. “Such steps were not seen during the Left Front regime or in BJP-ruled states,” he told a Bengali news channel.

Meanwhile, DGP Rajiv Kumar and Bidhannagar CP have been summoned by the committee which has been formed by the government to probe into the incident.

The opposition, however, remained unsatisfied. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said the resignation was meaningless, demanding the arrest of Aroop Biswas and Sujit Bose, and sought a refund of ticket prices.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, and former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly were scheduled to share the stage with Messi, but the programme was cut short as chaos unfolded, drawing nationwide criticism.

Event organiser Satadru Dutta, arrested later in the day, has been remanded to 14 days of police custody. While the Chief Minister has ordered an inquiry into the mismanagement, questions continue to be raised over how hundreds of people, including relatives of political figures, were allowed such close access to Messi.

Messi later completed the Hyderabad and Mumbai legs of the tour over the weekend without any incident.