West Bengal’s Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has committed to refunding fans who paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000 for tickets to see Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, but were unable to catch a glimpse of him due to disruptions during the event, according to a report from India Today.

Messi’s appearance at the Yuva Bharati Stadium on December 13 became chaotic, largely due to the excessive presence of Aroop Biswas, the Sports Minister from the Trinamool Congress party.

Those who had purchased tickets are demanding their money back, but their concerns have yet to be resolved.

Adhikari stated, “Messi has a huge fan base. They had purchased tickets costing Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000. It’s my wish to ensure that the money paid by these 33,000 sports enthusiasts is refunded.”

He also mentioned that he has begun the internal process to facilitate these refunds, expressing hope for a swift resolution.

The event took place on August 29 and was attended by notable figures including former hockey player Gurbux Singh, Sports Minister Indranil Khan, and AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, among others.

During the occasion, several athletes were honored and received appointment letters that had been pending in the Chief Minister’s office for over a decade.

Adhikari remarked, “You would be surprised to know that the paperwork for many of the athletes who received appointment letters today had been gathering dust in the Chief Minister’s office for 11 years.”

He further noted that in recent years, West Bengal has seen a lack of representation in major sports events like the Olympics and the Asian Games, unlike states such as Odisha and Jharkhand, which consistently send representatives.

The Messi G.O.A.T. India Tour event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, 2025, was marred by chaos and vandalism, leaving many fans who paid up to Rs 10,000 or more furious, as officials and celebrities blocked their view of the star, leading to his early departure after approximately 20 minutes.