West Bengal CM Suvendu pledges refunds for 33,000 Messi-event ticket buyers

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on National Sports Day at Nabanna that the state will refund the ticket money paid by 33,000 people who attended the chaotic Lionel Messi event at Yuva Bharati Stadium on December 13, 2025, and that the refunds will be paid from the state's sports budget.

The Messi appearance on December 13, 2025, was marred by disorder, and excessive hobnobbing by Aroop Biswas, the state's Sports Minister under the previous Trinamool Congress government, was blamed for the chaos; spectators who had bought tickets priced at Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000 demanded refunds at the time, a demand that has not yet been met.

The assurance came during a special National Sports Day function at Nabanna held to mark the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, where accomplished athletes were felicitated and handed appointment letters.

The ceremony was attended by former hockey player Gurbux Singh, Sports Minister Indranil Khan, All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey and others.

Suvendu criticised the previous administration's handling of sports files, saying, "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. "In recent years, West Bengal's representation in the Olympics, the Asian Games, or national teams has been virtually non-existent, whereas states like Odisha and Jharkhand send representatives. Bengal possesses talent, intellect, dedication, and focus, but lacks the necessary systems, initiatives, and political will. Why must every sports sector or organisation be controlled by politics? The change this time will be a transformation of that very system. We will ensure that happens."

Outlining his government's plans for the sports sector, Suvendu said, "We have allocated a budget of four hundred crore rupees for the sports sector; although, this is not a full-year budget but one covering eight months. We will build mini indoor stadiums in all 294 assembly constituencies, featuring tennis courts, badminton courts, and gymnasiums. It is not possible to build 294 stadiums in a single year, so we will construct 100 stadiums this year. The existing stadiums are in a dilapidated state; the previous government neglected the sports sector."

On the refund process, Suvendu added: "I have already initiated the process internally. I hope to be able to accomplish this."