Calling it a “dark day for the sports-loving people of Kolkata,” West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday directed the state government to arrest the organisers of the Lionel Messi event at Salt Lake Stadium, holding them squarely responsible for the large-scale mismanagement that led to chaos and vandalism at the venue.

In a strong statement following the incident, Bose said the organisers’ “sheer overconfidence and lack of planning” resulted in thousands of spectators being denied a proper view of the football icon, despite having paid hefty ticket prices.

The situation spiralled out of control as angry fans damaged property inside the stadium, forcing Messi to leave earlier than scheduled.

While blaming the organisers for the mess, the Governor also sharply criticised the role

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