Messi's India Tour Marred by Controversy and Security Concerns

Sports promoter Satadru Dutta, who organised Lionel Messi's India tour, has expressed regret over hosting the event in Kolkata after the controversy at Salt Lake Stadium during the Argentine star's visit. The event came under criticism after Messi left the stadium within 25 minutes amid crowd-control issues and security concerns.

Dutta accused the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress government of political interference and blackmail, claiming the event was sabotaged. He raised concerns over the security situation during Messi's appearance, stating that the footballer had close to a billion dollars in insurance coverage and that his team decided to cut the event short due to claustrophobic conditions.

Dutta claimed that all required approvals and security protocols had been completed from his side before the event, but that several unauthorised people entered the ground and surrounded Messi. He stated that the responsibility for maintaining security rested with the administration and police.

The immediate outlook is that the incident has sparked a controversy over the handling of the event, with Dutta's accusations against the local government likely to prompt an official response. The police and administration are expected to investigate the matter and take necessary actions to prevent similar incidents in the future.