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.
CM Adhikari said the state government is trying to find a way to refund around 33,000 affected spectators. Reports have said tickets were sold for Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000. The refund announcement also turned into a political attack on the previous Trinamool Congress administration. 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 issue is being examined through administrative and legal channels before the payments can be made. 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.
Messi’s team later said serious breaches of security and protocol had led to the early termination of the programme. Chief Minister Adhikari also raised the Khelo India programme and said discussions were taking place with the Union Sports Ministry.
The event was disrupted by crowding and security problems, with Messi’s appearance ending much earlier than many fans had expected.
