West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said around 33,000 fans who bought tickets for Lionel Messi’s chaotic Kolkata event will get their money back, months after the football superstar’s appearance ended in controversy.
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Adhikari made the announcement on National Sports Day at a programme held at Nabanna. He said the refund process had already been initiated internally and that the money would be returned from the state’s sports budget.
The announcement comes nearly nine months after Messi visited the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on December 13, 2025. The event, which was expected to be a major celebration for football fans, was disrupted by chaos and mismanagement.
Fans Paid Up To Rs 6,000 For Tickets
According to Adhikari, around 33,000 sports enthusiasts had purchased tickets priced at Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000 to attend the event.
However, Messi’s appearance lasted only a short time, with the Argentine football star surrounded by officials, VIPs and other people near the pitch. Many spectators complained that they could not properly see him despite paying thousands of rupees for the tickets.
The situation quickly turned tense, with angry spectators protesting inside the stadium. Bottles were thrown and parts of the venue were damaged as police moved in to control the crowd.
The incident triggered widespread criticism and demands for ticket refunds.
Refund Process Started, Says Suvendu
Speaking at the National Sports Day programme, Adhikari said he wanted to ensure that the money paid by the affected fans was returned.
He said the government had already started the process internally and expressed hope that the refunds could be completed.
The announcement is significant because the refund demand had remained unresolved for months following the December 2025 event.
The controversy also became a major political issue in West Bengal. The arrangements at the stadium were criticised, while the then Sports Minister Aroop Biswas faced allegations related to the management of the event.
Messi Event Probe Continues
The controversy surrounding the Kolkata Messi event has continued well beyond the day of the programme.
In June 2026, Messi’s office wrote to Kolkata Police and alleged that protocol and security breaches involving officials had contributed to the chaos. The case has also seen legal developments involving former Sports Minister Aroop Biswas.
The Calcutta High Court recently extended interim protection from coercive action to Biswas until November 30, while allowing the investigation to continue.
Bengal Plans Sports Infrastructure Push
Alongside the refund announcement, Adhikari outlined his government’s plans to improve sports infrastructure in West Bengal.
He announced a Rs 400 crore sports budget and said the government plans to build mini indoor stadiums across all 294 Assembly constituencies. The facilities are expected to include tennis courts, badminton courts and gymnasiums.
Adhikari said 100 such indoor stadiums would be constructed this year, while also criticising the previous government over the condition of existing sports facilities.
For the thousands of fans who attended the Messi event, however, the immediate focus remains on the promised refund. The government has started the internal process, but a specific timeline and mechanism for returning the ticket money have not yet been announced.
