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Bhubaneswar, Feb 24 (PTI) Odisha FC and Inter Kashi FC played out a goalless draw in an Indian Super League match here on Tuesday. Despite nine attempts from Odisha and eight from Inter Kashi, only two shots on target were registered by each side. Odisha's Rahul KP, a former FIFA U17 World Cupper, was named the Player of the Match. The visitors started brightly. In the opening minute, Inter Kashi midfielder Tomba Singh forced Odisha custodian Amrinder effect a sharp low save from distance. Od ...Read More >
Three-time Indian Super League runners-up Kerala Blasters were on the verge of losing their home ground, but managed to bring the situation under control ahead of their match against Mumbai City on Sunday, February 22. The Greater Cochin Development Authority, owners of the Kaloor Stadium, the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, increased the rent demanded from Kerala Blasters FC by Rs 2.2 lakh per game just two days before their scheduled match. The Greater Cochin Development Authority de ...Read More >
No willingness to invest in Indian football but crores spent on Messi tour: Sandesh Jhingan IMAGE: Lionel Messi kicks the ball into the stands as he takes a lap of honour at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Photograph: Sahil Salvi/Rediff Indian men's football team captain Sandesh Jhingan on Wednesday questioned the logic of spending crores on Lionel Messi's high-profile 'GOAT Tour', saying the extravagance has forced him to think if anyone is really concerned about investing in Indian football, ...Read More >
Kolkata: Four of the six officials associated with Satadru Dutta's firm, A Satadru Roy Initiative, which organised Lionel Messi's three-day India tour, appeared before Bidhannagar Police on Tuesday and recorded their statements. Police commissioner Mukesh said all six individuals were summoned. "Four officials turned up today, submitted their statements, and are cooperating with the investigation. The remaining two have sought time to appear before us. We will record their statements once they p ...Read More >
West Bengal State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas on Tuesday has resigned, amid ire against him from angry fans, and after the chaos during Messi's visit to Yuvabharati Stadium. West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar and Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh have also been show caused by the Chief Secretary's office. Major chaos and pandemonium followed during football superstar Lionel Messi's appearance in Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, and probe by a high-powered committee was ordered by Chief M ...Read More >
Football legend Lionel Messi concluded his 'GOAT India Tour' with a visit to Delhi, expressing gratitude for India's love. He met ICC Chairman Jay Shah, receiving Indian cricket jerseys and an autographed bat. The tour, which included stops in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, saw memorable interactions and some fan chaos. New Delhi [India], December 17: Argentina football icon Lionel Messi thanked India for its love and affection following the conclusion of his 'GOAT India Tour', which saw chaos ...Read More >
Kolkata, Dec 17 (PTI) A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the West Bengal government on Wednesday began its investigation into the vandalism at Argentine football star Lionel Messi's event at the Salt Lake stadium here last week, an official said. The team, comprising senior IPS officers Piyush Pandey, Javed Shamim, Supratim Sarkar and Muralidhar, visited the stadium and later went to the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate office nearby. A team of forensic officers and the detect ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bollywood singer Rahul Vaidya took to social media to highlight how football legend Lionel Messi, despite being a global icon, chose to stay true to his roots and culture, even during his visit to India. Rahul wrote, "One thing we Indians must learn from Messi: Own your language. Own your culture. English is a skill -- not a master. Learn it well, but don't be enslaved by it. Looking down on your own language is the real insecurity. Global icon. Zero language ins ...Read More >
Lionel Messi waving to fans in New Delhi on Monday Sanchit Khanna/Hindustan Times via Getty Images Lionel Messi's three-day 'GOAT Tour' to India -- marred by chaotic scenes inside a stadium and the tour's promoter being arrested and detained -- has come to an end. Messi arrived in India on December 13 to thousands of fans lining the streets to catch a glimpse of who many believe is the greatest footballer of all time, hence the tour being called 'GOAT', an acronym of greatest of all time. And ...Read More >
Kolkata, Dec 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) One more person has been arrested in connection with the vandalism during Lionel Messi's event at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, taking the number of those arrested to six, the Bidhannagar police said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed by the West Bengal government on Tuesday, began its probe into the matter. According to police sources, the sixth arrest was made late on Tuesday night. The arrested person has been identified ...Read More >
Kolkata, Dec 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma on Wednesday said that Argentine football star Lionel Messi's event schedule at the Salt Lake Stadium was changed at the last minute and that following the change, the police department did not hear from the organiser anymore. According to the police commissioner, Messi was initially scheduled to stay at the Taj Bengal, which falls under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Police. Later, the event schedule was altered and Messi st ...Read More >
Asked about the Messi incident, Banerjee said that the state government has taken action. New Delhi: Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said the West Bengal government has taken action following the chaos during an event involving Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi, adding that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had apologised within an hour of the incident. Talking to media in the Parliament complex, Banerjee also said they were not satisfied with the mann ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Lionel Messi's much-celebrated G.O.A.T. India Tour has been packed with star power, roaring crowds, and unforgettable fan moments. But beyond the stadium lights, one visit quietly turned into one of the most discussed highlights of the tour. Messi's stop at Vantara, the wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre founded by Anant Ambani, blended global stardom, meaningful symbolism, and jaw-dropping luxury and the internet couldn't look away. Messi was welcomed at Vantar ...Read More >
Jamnagar, Dec 17 (PTI) Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi visited Vantara, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre, in Gujarat's Jamnagar before ending his GOAT India Tour. According to sources, Messi, along with fellow football stars Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, reached Vantara on Tuesday evening at the invitation of industrialist Mukesh Ambani's family. At Vantara, Messi took a round of the wildlife facility founded by Mukesh Ambani's youngest son Anant Ambani, sources said. ...Read More >
Kolkata, Dec 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) Argentina football legend Lionel Messi released a commemorative video of his 'GOAT India Tour' on Wednesday, notably excluding any footage of his appearance at Kolkata's Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium). The omission comes amid a backdrop of administrative mismanagement and fan unrest during the Kolkata leg of the tour, which was marred by mismanagement resulting in fans' outrage and the arrest of the event organiser. The video, shared on Messi's offi ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 17 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday backed the remarks of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee defending the Bengal government after chaos erupted at Lionel Messi's event in Kolkata, stating that he was only highlighting the Bhartiya Janata Party's non-accountability and hypocrisy. Speaking to ANI, she showcased support to Banerjee, saying, "He said that the TMC govt had taken action and the state Sports minister who was responsible has resigned. The CM ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Lionel Messi hoped that football has a "bright future" in India and expressed gratitude for the "generous hospitality" that he got here during a whirlwind three-day tour, which had thousands of fans jostling to catch a glimpse of the Argentine genius in four different cities. Messi, after extending his stay by a day to visit the Anant Ambani-founded Vantara wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre in Jamnagar, left for his base in Miami on Wednesday. Taki ...Read More >
Aroop Biswas made it to The New York Times on Saturday but the 61-year-old sports minister of Bengal, one of the trusted aides of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, will definitely not like the attention. His party and government were left red-faced after the mess that unfolded at the Salt Lake stadium during the big-ticket event held for Lionel Messi. Angry fans ran amok, clashing with police, after the Argentine football star could barely be seen from the stands because he was surrounded by a p ...Read More >
Mumbai, Dec 17 (SocialNews.XYZ) After concluding the last leg of his India tour, legendary footballer Lionel Messi decided to post a special montage video on social media, incorporating memories from his visit to the country. Amidst several moments that apparently stood out for the G.O.A.T. was his meeting with Bollywood beauty Kareena Kapoor and her two boys, Taimur and Jeh. Elated about featuring in Messi's farewell video, Bebo gave a shout-out to her elder son Taimur. Kareena re-posted Mes ...Read More >
Soccer. Ibrahimovic praised Messi's son and sparked excitement at Inter Miami Lionel Messi's recent visit to India was framed as a landmark moment for football fans, and in many respects, it lived up to the hype. Over the course of three tightly scheduled days, the Argentine legend traveled across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, attracting massive crowds wherever he appeared. For a country where elite football icons are rarely seen in person, Messi's presence alone was enough to spark n ...Read More >
JAMMU, Dec 16: Workers of Dogra Front & Shiv Sena (DF&SS) here today under the leadership of their president, Ashok Gupta organised a protest rally against the regional discrimination with Jammu which was exposed in the process of selection of Santosh trophy team. Addressing the protesters, Gupta said that around 115 football clubs are currently functioning in Jammu province producing a large pool of talent every year and for the Santosh Trophy trials, 74 players from Jammu were shortlisted and ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], December 16 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken charge of the state's sports ministry, following the resignation of cabinet minister Aroop Biswas, who stepped down from his role amid a probe into the chaos that erupted during Lionel Messi's appearance at a Kolkata stadium. Accepting her minister's resignation, an official statement from the CM read that "until and unless the impartial inquiry is over, the Sports Department will be looked af ...Read More >
Jamnagar, Dec 16 (PTI) Global football icon Lionel Messi on Tuesday visited Vantara, a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre in Jamnagar, where he participated in traditional rituals and interacted with conservation teams at the facility founded by Anant Ambani. Messi, accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, was accorded a traditional welcome, featuring folk music, floral greetings and a ceremonial 'Aarti'. During the visit, Messi toured Vant ...Read More >
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], December 16 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken charge of the state's sports ministry, following the resignation of cabinet minister Aroop Biswas, who stepped down from his role amid a probe into the chaos that erupted during Lionel Messi's appearance at a Kolkata stadium. Accepting her minister's resignation, an official statement from the CM read that "until and unless the impartial inquiry is over, the Sports Department will be looked af ...Read More >
Jamnagar: Global football icon Lionel Messi on Tuesday visited Vantara, wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre founded by Anant Ambani, where he took part in traditional rituals, toured animal care facilities and interacted with conservation teams. Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, was accorded a traditional welcome featuring folk music, floral greetings and a ceremonial aarti. He also participated in temple rituals, offering prayers f ...Read More >
A cafe in Kolkata has become a global curiosity. It is entirely dedicated to football legend Lionel Messi. The owner, Shamindra Ghosh, built it as a tribute to the player who helped him through depression. He now hopes to meet his idol. Messi is scheduled to visit the city soon. This unique story highlights the profound personal impact global sports icons can have. Shamindra Ghosh opened Cafe Leo several years ago. He was grieving his mother's loss and struggling to find a job. Watching Messi ...Read More >
Kolkata, Dec 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Confusion over claims and counter claims on who provided security to football legend Lionel Messi during his visit to Kolkata late last week which ended in fans storming the pitch and indulging in vandalism after failing to see him properly. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Tuesday rejected the claim made by West Bengal Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay that it had provided security cover to the footballer. The official account of CISF in an X pos ...Read More >
Messi landed in Kolkata at 01:30 local time. Thousands lined the roads and congregated outside his hotel to catch a glimpse of him. The day began with the meet-and-greet ticket holders first up from 09:00 to 10:30. Then the day took a strange twist. A 70ft statue of Messi lifting the World Cup was unveiled by the former Barcelona icon. But he was not present - it was a virtual unveiling. He was on a video screen and pressed a button on a remote control. At this point a blue sheet dropped to ...Read More >
Mumbai, December 16: Today, December 16, football legend Lionel Messi departed from Gujarat's Jamnagar after visiting Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre. Notably, Messi was hosted at Vantara by business Anant Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani, who is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries. It is worth noting that Jamnagar marked the final stop of Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, which saw the Argentine footballer visit Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi in ...Read More >
Kolkata, Dec 16 (PTI) The West Bengal government on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to senior police officers, including the DGP, over alleged mismanagement during the Lionel Messi event at the Salt Lake stadium last week. The state government also suspended Bidhannagar Deputy Police Commissioner Aneesh Sarkar, a statement from Chief Secretary Manoj Pant's office said. The actions were taken following the recommendations of the probe panel constituted to investigate the alleged mismanagement ...Read More >
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