West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has said his government is working to refund ticket money to around 33,000 fans who attended the controversial Lionel Messi event at Kolkata’s Yuva Bharati Stadium in December 2025.
The announcement came during a National Sports Day programme at Nabanna on Saturday, where Adhikari also unveiled plans for a major expansion of sports infrastructure across West Bengal.
Messi’s visit to Kolkata on December 13, 2025, had generated huge excitement among football fans. However, the event later descended into chaos, with spectators complaining about poor arrangements and restricted views of the Argentine football star. Fans who had paid thousands of rupees for tickets subsequently demanded their money back.
Government Starts Internal Process for Refund
Speaking about the controversy, Adhikari said he wanted the affected supporters to receive their money back and claimed that an internal process had already begun.“Messi has a huge fan base. They had purchased tickets costing Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000. It is my wish to ensure that the money paid by these 33,000 sports enthusiasts is refunded. I have already initiated the process internally. I hope to be able to accomplish this.”
The Chief Minister said the proposed refund would be handled through the state’s sports budget. However, the exact mechanism and timeline for payments have not yet been announced.
The announcement is significant because the ticket dispute has remained unresolved since the December event. The controversy had also led to political criticism and questions over the organisation and management of Messi’s appearance.
Adhikari Targets Previous Government Over Sports
The Messi refund announcement was part of a wider speech in which Adhikari criticised the previous government for what he described as years of neglect of sports in the state.
He claimed that paperwork related to several athletes who were recently given appointment letters had remained pending in the Chief Minister’s Office for years.“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.”
Adhikari also argued that Bengal has talented athletes but lacks the infrastructure and administrative support needed to help them compete at the highest level.“Bengal possesses talent, intellect, dedication, and focus, but lacks the necessary systems, initiatives, and political will.”
₹400 Crore Sports Budget Announced
The Chief Minister also announced a ₹400-crore allocation for sports, clarifying that the amount covers an eight-month budget period rather than a full financial year.
Under the proposed infrastructure plan, the government aims to eventually establish mini indoor stadiums across all 294 Assembly constituencies.
The facilities are expected to include sports amenities such as tennis and badminton courts and gymnasiums. Adhikari said the government plans to construct 100 such facilities this year, with the remaining projects to be taken up later.
The Chief Minister also questioned the role of political leaders in sports organisations and called for changes in the way sporting bodies are managed.
Messi Fans Await Official Refund Details
For the thousands of supporters affected by the Kolkata event, the biggest question now is when and how they will receive their money.
While Adhikari has said the process has started internally, the government is yet to announce detailed refund guidelines, eligibility criteria or a payment schedule.
The proposed reimbursement could therefore become an important test of the new government’s promise to address the fallout from the controversial Messi event.
The announcement also comes as West Bengal seeks to rebuild its sports infrastructure and increase its presence in national and international competitions.
