Lionel Messi's team has finally broken its silence on the chaos that unfolded at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium during the opening day of the GOAT Tour last December.
In an email sent to the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, Messi's camp reportedly held former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas responsible for the fiasco while exonerating event organiser Satadru Dutta.
The email forms part of an ongoing investigation after Dutta filed a complaint alleging criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, cheating and extortion.
According to Dutta, the email revealed that Messi's team had repeatedly informed the police about Biswas' role in the incident, but the police ignored it and made him a scapegoat.
Messi arrived in India last December as part of his four-city GOAT Tour, but the Kolkata leg descended into chaos almost immediately.
The Argentine superstar was forced to cut short his appearance at the stadium within minutes, leaving thousands of fans disappointed and triggering scenes of vandalism inside the venue.
Messi's representatives specifically alleged that Biswas violated agreed protocols during the event, including entering the field of play and becoming involved in unscheduled interactions with Messi.
The email further claimed that Biswas' actions contributed to a wider breakdown of security arrangements, making it impossible for Messi to interact with the individuals and activities that had been planned on the stadium field.
