Kolkata's iconic Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, popularly known as the Salt Lake Stadium, will require a minimum of two months to be restored to a match-ready condition following unprecedented scenes of vandalism last Saturday. Officials confirmed the extensive damage, triggered by fan fury after football legend Lionel Messi's abrupt exit, will cost several crores to repair.
Extent of Damage and Preliminary Assessment
A preliminary assessment conducted by the Public Works Department (PWD) has revealed widespread destruction across the country's largest football arena. The damage is not confined to one area but spans the playing surface, spectator galleries, and critical stadium infrastructure.
A senior PWD official detailed the carnage on Tuesday, stating, "Several bucket seats will have to be replaced. Sections of the Astroturf have been damaged, natural grass was uprooted, the goalpost was dislodged, nets were cut and the tunnel roof was vandalised. Gallery grilles were also torn apart." The official emphasized that comprehensive repairs would take at least two months.
The Trigger: Security Lapse and Fan Fury
The violence erupted following an unexpected turn of events involving Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Messi departed the stadium merely 22 minutes after his arrival, over 40 minutes before his scheduled exit. This decision was forced by a major breach in security protocol, attributed to a chaotic mix of VIP culture, political entourages, and unauthorised entries.
This sudden departure sparked outrage among thousands of fans who had waited for hours to catch a glimpse of the icon. Their disappointment quickly turned into a rampage. Spectators stormed the pitch, uprooted and hurled bucket seats and bottles, ripped goalpost nets, and set fire to tents inside the complex.
Even days later, on Tuesday, the damage remained starkly visible. Investigators preserved the scene to document the destruction. Near ramp 29, torn metal bars from guardrails lay scattered, and multiple damaged metal detectors were abandoned at entry points.
Administrative Fallout and Silver Lining
The fallout from the incident has led to immediate administrative action. Following the recommendation of a state government-appointed inquiry committee probing alleged mismanagement and crowd control lapses, Deb Kumar Nandan, the CEO of the stadium authority, has been withdrawn from his post.
Officials admitted that the only immediate relief is the current suspension of the Indian Super League (ISL). The premier football competition is on hold due to the non-renewal of the Master Rights Agreement. A management committee member of a leading city-based club noted, "Had the ISL been underway, the stadium would have been completely unusable." Sources indicate the league is expected to resume in January once legal hurdles are cleared.
The stadium, which was rebuilt at a cost of Rs 121 crore ahead of the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, had undergone a dramatic transformation. Its world-class facilities, including Riviera Bermuda grass, upgraded broadcast rooms, air-conditioned VIP lobbies, and new blue bucket seats, now bear the scars of Saturday's chaos. Beautification initiatives by the state forest department involving landscaping, statues, and water bodies were also damaged.
