Investigation Reveals Lionel Messi Earned Enormous Sum During India Tour

Kolkata:
Last week, football superstar Lionel Messi embarked on a whirlwind tour of India, beginning in Kolkata before moving on to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. Accompanying him were his long-time teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. While the tour was entirely commercial in nature, it made headlines far beyond football due to unprecedented chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.

The disorder has now escalated to the attention of both the courts and a specially constituted investigation committee. The probe has revealed eye-watering financial details: Messi is reported to have received ₹89 crore for the tour alone. The total expenditure for the entire event reportedly reached ₹100 crore. These figures emerged during questioning of the main organiser of the Kolkata leg, Shatadru Dutta, by India’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), with the news confirmed by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

Sources of Funds :

Shatadru Dutta informed investigators that 30% of the funds were sourced from corporate sponsors, while another 30% came from ticket sales. SIT officials have also seized over ₹20 crore from one of Dutta’s bank accounts, although the origins of these funds are still under scrutiny. Several crucial documents were also confiscated during a raid on his residence last Friday.

Salt Lake Stadium: A Scene of Chaos

On 13 December, thousands of spectators paid premium prices for a fleeting glimpse of Messi. However, once the football icon entered the stadium, chaos ensued. Between 70 and 80 individuals crowded around him, obstructing views from the stands. Frustrated fans resorted to vandalism and looting, while police engaged in repeated chase-and-control operations. The situation escalated to such an extent that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, en route to the stadium, had to turn back.

Following the incident, Shatadru Dutta was arrested at the airport in Hyderabad and remanded to 14 days’ police custody on 14 December. A Special Investigation Team, comprising senior IPS officers Piyush Pandey, Javed Shamim, Supratim Sarkar, and Muralidhar, has been tasked with probing the episode.

Influence and Security Concerns

During questioning, Dutta revealed that Messi was displeased by fans touching or hugging him, prompting him to leave the field earlier than scheduled. Foreign security officials had previously advised that Messi should not be physically contacted. Images from the event showed West Bengal Sports Minister Arup Biswas standing close to Messi, allegedly using his influence to facilitate access for relatives and acquaintances. Facing public criticism, Biswas resigned pending the outcome of the investigation.

Investigators are examining how such a large number of people gained access inside the stadium. Initially, only 150 ground passes were to be issued, but Dutta claimed a “highly influential individual” tripled this number and assumed control of the situation.