Messi Event Chaos: 33,000 Fans To Get Ticket Refund

Article by Kumar Published on: 11:16 am, 30 August 2026

Lionel Messi’s much hyped Kolkata event turned into a major controversy after chaos and mismanagement at Yuva Bharati Stadium left thousands of fans disappointed and the then TMC Goverment led by Mamta Banerjee faces huge criticism. Now, Newly elected CM Suvendu Adhikari has announced a major move to compensate the affected fans.

Adhikari said the ticket money of around 33,000 fans will be refunded from the state’s sports budget. The tickets were reportedly priced at Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000, with fans demanding their money back after the disastrous event.

Messi had visited the stadium on December 13, 2025, as part of his India tour. However, the event quickly descended into chaos, with overcrowding and mismanagement creating an unpleasant experience for the fans who had paid heavily to see the football icon.

The issue became a major political controversy in West Bengal, with the previous administration facing criticism over the arrangements. Thousands of fans had been waiting for months for clarity on their refund demands.

Suvendu Adhikari said the refund process has already been initiated internally and expressed hope that the money would be returned to all 33,000 sports enthusiasts.

Along with the refund announcement, Adhikari also spoke about transforming Bengal’s sports infrastructure. He announced a 400 crore sports budget and plans to build 100 mini indoor stadiums this year.

The Messi event controversy, which remained unresolved for months, has therefore taken a fresh turn with the refund promise. For thousands of disappointed fans, the key question now is how soon the promised money will actually reach their accounts.