West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said the state government was working to refund ticket money to around 33,000 spectators who had purchased tickets for the chaotic Lionel Messi event at Yuva Bharati Krirangan while blaming the previous Trinamool Congress government for the mismanagement.
Refunds promised for 33,000 Messi fans
Fans who paid thousands of rupees to watch Messi at the Salt Lake stadium have been waiting for their money back since the event on December 13, 2025.
CM Adhikari said the state government is trying to find a way to refund around 33,000 affected spectators. The issue is being examined through administrative and legal channels before the payments can be made. Reports have said tickets were sold for Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000.
The decision comes months after angry spectators demanded refunds following the disorder inside the stadium.
CM Adhikari also highlighted the case of a delivery worker who had reportedly saved money for a year in the hope of seeing Messi. The story has become a symbol of the disappointment faced by fans who paid heavily for the event.
Political attack over Messi event chaos
The refund announcement also turned into a political attack on the previous Trinamool Congress administration.
CM Adhikari criticised the earlier government for failing to give enough attention to sports and pointed to the Messi event as an example of poor management.
Former Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has faced scrutiny over the event. The controversy has also led to legal proceedings, with the Calcutta High Court recently extending his interim protection while allowing the investigation to continue.
The event was disrupted by crowding and security problems, with Messi’s appearance ending much earlier than many fans had expected. Messi’s team later said serious breaches of security and protocol had led to the early termination of the programme.
Rs 400 crore sports budget announced
CM Adhikari used National Sports Day to announce a wider plan for sports development in West Bengal.
- The state has proposed Rs 400 crore for the sports sector.
- Mini indoor stadiums are planned across all 294 Assembly constituencies.
- The first phase aims to establish 100 facilities for table tennis, badminton and gyms.
- The government wants athletes to receive financial support before they win international medals.
CM Adhikari also compared West Bengal’s sports performance with Haryana and said the state needed to do more to support athletes before major competitions.
Focus shifts to Khelo India funding
Chief Minister Adhikari also raised the Khelo India programme and said discussions were taking place with the Union Sports Ministry.
He said the state would prepare detailed project reports and seek large-scale funding if required to improve sports infrastructure.
For the thousands of Messi fans still waiting for compensation, however, the key question remains when the promised refunds will actually reach their accounts.
