'Was it a conspiracy?' | TMC’s ‘saffron flag’ charge after Messi event chaos in Kolkata

Amid a heated political slugfest over the chaos and vandalism that marred Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata, the ruling Trinamool Congress has raised questions over whether the disturbances at Salt Lake Stadium were deliberately orchestrated. The party also flagged the presence of saffron flags at the venue, suggesting a possible premeditated attempt to create unrest.

Calling the incident unfortunate, Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said the disappointment among fans stemmed from their inability to even glimpse the Argentine football icon, who remained surrounded by organisers and dignitaries. “This was not a state government programme. The responsibility of crowd management and arrangements lay entirely with the private organiser,” Ghosh told news agency ANI.

He added that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had already apologised to Messi and football fans for the scenes at the stadium, and that a probe committee headed by a retired judge had been constituted. However, Ghosh questioned the conduct of some individuals present at the venue. “Why were people chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and carrying saffron flags at a football event? Were they exploiting the emotions of fans? Was this incident pre-planned?” he asked.

Trinamool spokesperson Riju Dutta echoed similar concerns, questioning the link between the slogans raised and the football event. In a post on X, he alleged that a “pre-planned conspiracy to defame Bengal” had been executed at the stadium, claiming the violence resembled unrest seen elsewhere and was not driven by genuine football supporters.

Dutta further alleged that those involved in vandalism were not Messi fans but a mob that raised religious slogans, waved saffron flags, and damaged stadium property with the intention of maligning the state.

Messi’s Kolkata appearance grabbed headlines after disgruntled fans hurled bottles and vandalised parts of the stadium following the football legend’s brief presence. Several ticket-holders, who claimed they had paid exorbitant prices, complained that political leaders and organisers crowded around Messi, denying fans even a clear view. Tensions escalated after Messi left, prompting some fans to attempt to breach the ground, forcing police to use mild force to restore order.

The Trinamool Congress also faced criticism after videos surfaced showing its leaders interacting with and posing for photographs with Messi while fans in the stands struggled to catch a glimpse of him.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the mismanagement. In a post on X, she apologised to Messi and football lovers, saying she was on her way to the stadium when the incident unfolded.

The BJP, meanwhile, squarely blamed the ruling party for the disorder. A BJP leader accused the Trinamool Congress of gross mismanagement, alleging the absence of adequate security and administrative preparedness. He also claimed tickets were sold on the black market and warned that a stampede-like situation could have had far graver consequences.