Kolkata, 19 January (H.S.): A controversy has surfaced over a football match held at the Salt Lake–based Yuva Bharati Krirangan ahead of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi’s appearance in Kolkata. The Indian Football Association has summoned four referees for allegedly officiating the match without prior approval, directing them to appear before the association’s internal disciplinary committee on January 20.
According to sources, a match between Mohun Bagan and Diamond Harbour Legends was played at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan on December 13, shortly before the Messi event. The allegation is that the four referees who officiated the match failed to obtain mandatory clearance from both the Indian Football Association and the Calcutta Referees’ Association. The lapse is being viewed as a serious violation of established rules, prompting the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against them.
The issue is linked to the wider controversy surrounding the Messi event held on the same day, during which large-scale mismanagement was reported at the stadium. Soon after Messi entered the field, crowd control collapsed as spectators surged forward to take photographs, overwhelming security arrangements. Messi reportedly left the ground after just 22 minutes, following which incidents of vandalism were reported. Chairs and bottles were thrown onto the field, gates were damaged, and several spectators entered the pitch. Damage was also reported in the galleries and restrooms.
In the aftermath, the state government constituted a committee to investigate the incident. Event organiser Shatadru Dutta was arrested and remanded to judicial custody, while the then state Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned from his post. Additionally, several senior police officers, including Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, were issued show-cause notices.
The Indian Football Association’s disciplinary committee will now examine the circumstances under which the referees officiated the match without the required authorisation. The committee’s decision will determine whether disciplinary action is warranted against the officials concerned.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
