West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned after chaos at Lionel Messi's Kolkata event. CM Mamata Banerjee has ordered a probe into the mismanagement.
Brajesh Mishra
West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas formally resigned today, December 16, 2025, accepting "moral responsibility" for the administrative collapse during Lionel Messi's visit to Kolkata. The resignation comes three days after the Argentine legend's event at the Salt Lake Stadium descended into chaos, with severe overcrowding, vandalism, and security failures that prevented VIPs like Shah Rukh Khan from even entering the venue. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepted the resignation immediately and has temporarily taken charge of the Sports Department to oversee a high-level probe.
The 'GOAT India Tour 2025' was meant to be a PR triumph for Bengal, showcasing Kolkata as a global sports destination. Instead, it became a logistical nightmare. On December 13, thousands of ticket-holding fans were locked out, gates were breached, and the police lost control of the crowd. The mismanagement was so severe that the Chief Minister publicly reprimanded top officials, asking if they intended to "ruin the state's name." The fallout has been swift: the stadium's CEO was sacked yesterday, and today, the minister in charge has stepped down to facilitate an "impartial investigation."
While headlines focus on "crowd trouble," the deeper story is the "Ticketing Syndicate." The chaos wasn't just enthusiasm; reports indicate a systemic failure where capacity was oversold by local powerbrokers, creating a dangerous crush. The resignation of Biswas may effectively put a lid on the investigation before it reaches the political nexus that controls event management in Salt Lake. Furthermore, the disaster highlights a critical "Tech Deficit"—while global stadiums use AI for real-time crowd density monitoring to prevent stampedes, Kolkata relied on manual policing, which collapsed under pressure. This wasn't just bad luck; it was obsolete management meeting modern demand.
This incident could freeze Kolkata's ambitions to host future international mega-events. The visual of VIPs being turned away and fans rioting is a red flag for global organizers. Domestically, it hands the opposition a potent weapon ahead of the 2026 elections, framing the TMC administration as incapable of managing even a football match without chaos.
If the state can't secure a stadium for one football player, how can it promise security for global investors?
Why did West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resign? Aroop Biswas resigned on December 16, 2025, taking "moral responsibility" for the severe mismanagement, overcrowding, and security lapses that occurred during Lionel Messi's event at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13.
Who has replaced Aroop Biswas as Sports Minister? Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accepted his resignation and temporarily taken charge of the Sports Department to oversee the investigation into the event's failure.
Did Aroop Biswas leave the government entirely? No. While he resigned as Sports Minister, Aroop Biswas continues to serve in the West Bengal cabinet, retaining his portfolios for Power and Housing.
What happened at the Lionel Messi event in Kolkata? The event was marred by chaos, including vandalism and a breakdown of crowd control. Valid ticket holders were denied entry, and high-profile guests like Shah Rukh Khan could not enter the venue due to the security collapse.
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