www.thestatesman.com | India’s National Newspaper since 1818 World @TheStatesmanLtd FOLLOW US: | Pages 12 | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | Uneasy vacuum Page 6 Page 9 | 14 December 2025 S P O RT S Editorial Twenty US states sue President Donald Trump over $100,000 H-1B visa fee BHUBANESWAR Shubman Gill on the edge as India’s T20I experiments nears deadline Page 12 Messi mania sparks chaos after fans miss out NDA makes history with civic poll win in Thiruvananthapuram: Thiruvananthapuram: The results in the local body elections in Kerala have come as a setback for the ruling CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the state ahead of assembly elections next year, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front(UDF) registering a thumping victory in both rural and urban civic bodies The BJP-led NDA, meanwhile, made history by registered a resounding victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Muncipal Corporation, by winning 50 seats in the 101-member municipal corporation in Kerala's capital city. The municipal corporation was seen as a Left bastion. In the outgoing 100-member corporation, the CPM had 51 seats, the BJP-led NDA 35 and the UDF 10. Page 6 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 13 December T he Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in the city witnessed unprecedented chaos on Saturday as thousands of football fans, who had gathered to catch a glimpse of Argentine football icon Lionel Andrés Messi erupted in protest after failing to see their idol despite paying hefty ticket prices. Bucket seats, VIP sofas and other fixtures were vandalised, and in some sections fires were also set during the unrest.The situation spiralled out of control, turning the iconic stadium into a virtual battleground and forcing the organisers to cut short Messi’s visit. Police later arrested the main organiser of the event while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered a probe into the mismanagement that led to the chaos. From the early hours of the morning, braving the December chill, fans had queued up outside the stadium to see Messi in person. Many claimed they had spent between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 on tickets. However, disappointment soon turned into anger when Messi remained largely obscured by a heavy VIP presence on the field. Messi arrived at the stadium on schedule and entered the ground along with fellow footballers Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. Although the World Cup-winning captain waved at the spectators with a smile, fans seated in the galleries alleged that they could barely see him due to the crowd of nearly 150 people surrounding him on the field. Most of those surrounding Messi were taking selfies with him, spurring people's anger. As soon as Messi left the ground, anger exploded. Angry fans began throwing bottles onto the field. Some tore down banners bearing Messi’s image, while others broke through barricades and rushed onto the ground. Plastic chairs in the galleries were smashed and hurled onto the field. The players’ tunnel and canopy also suffered extensive damage during the vandalism. Police resorted to a baton charge to regain control of the situation and disperse the unruly crowd. Security personnel struggled for several minutes to contain the chaos. Sensing the growing unrest, the organisers escorted Messi out of the ground ahead of the scheduled time. He left the stadium swiftly and proceeded directly to the airport. • More reports: Pgs 3, 12 Mamata announces probe into stadium chaos, apologises to fans Kolkata: Chief Minister I am deeply Mamata Banerjee on disturbed and Saturday ordered an inquiry into the mayhem shocked by the that broke out at a mismanagement near-capacity Salt Lake witnessed today at Stadium this morning when disappointed fans Salt Lake Stadium. vandalised the venue MAMATA BANERJEE, after football legend Lionel Messi’s visit to the WEST BENGAL CHIEF MINISTER stadium. A three-member panel has been constituted, led by former Justice Ashim Kumar Roy, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary of Home and Hill Affairs as members.Miss Banerjee, who was scheduled to attend the programme to felicitate Messi had to skip the event following the chaos. She blamed bungling on the part of the organisers that led to the disorder. The Chief Minister took to her official X handle to express her disgust and apologise to fans. She announced a thorough inquiry by the panel into the mismanagement. In her post, Miss Banerjee wrote:“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to see Lionel Messi. I sincerely apologise to Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for this unfortunate incident.”