Inaugurated by Messi, now facing demolition: Kolkata's 70-foot statue sparks safety row
Kolkata: Kolkata’s towering 70-foot tribute to football legend Lionel Messi is set to be dismantled after engineers flagged serious safety concerns over its structural stability in Lake Town.
The process to remove the massive installation began on Monday, with two hydraulic cranes arriving at the site as engineers and workers moved in following inspection reports.
According to officials, the structure was found to be unstable after it was reportedly seen “swaying in the wind”, prompting urgent intervention by authorities.
A West Bengal MLA, Sharadwat Mukherjee, confirmed the development, stating, “The statue of the Argentine football legend was found to be unsafe… We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind."
Star-studded inauguration now overshadowed by safety fears
The statue, which was virtually inaugurated by Lionel Messi himself during his visit to India, had also seen the presence of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and West Bengal Minister and Sree Bhumi Sporting Club President Sujit Bose.
The massive structure depicted Messi holding the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy and was built over just 27 days as a fan tribute ahead of his “GOAT Tour” visit to India, which included stops in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, along with teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.
The authorities have indicated the statue may be rebuilt at an alternative location after dismantling.
The controversy comes amid broader fallout from Messi’s Kolkata event, which reportedly descended into chaos at Salt Lake Stadium, where fans who purchased high-priced tickets alleged mismanagement and restricted access.
A week earlier, organiser Satadru Dutta filed a complaint against former West Bengal Sports Minister Arup Biswas, accusing him of misconduct, including alleged misuse of tickets and pressure related to access distribution.
Post-event scenes turned violent as some spectators allegedly threw bottles, attempted to breach gates, and vandalised stadium areas after Messi left early. Police were forced to intervene and restore order using mild force.