Kolkata|20th December 2025:
Former Indian Cricket Captain & Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Sourav Ganguly has filed a ₹50 crore defamation case following allegations linking him to the chaos surrounding Argentine football legend Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata.
The case has been filed against Uttam Saha, president of the Argentina Fan Club in Kolkata, who had allegedly made public statements suggesting Ganguly’s involvement in the mismanagement of the high-profile event held at Yuva Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium).
According to sources, Ganguly has termed the allegations as false, baseless, malicious and defamatory, stating that they have caused serious damage to his personal and professional reputation. In his complaint, Ganguly clarified that he had no role in organizing or managing the event & had attended only as an invited guest only
The legal notice claims that attempts were made to portray Ganguly as a “middleman” in the event, an allegation he has categorically denied. Ganguly’s legal team has demanded a public apology and compensation, failing which further legal action may follow.
The controversy erupted after Lionel Messi’s Kolkata visit witnessed massive crowd mismanagement, leaving fans disappointed. The situation drew widespread criticism, leading to the detention of the event’s main organizer. Even West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later expressed regret over the chaos.
Ganguly has lodged the complaint at Lalbazar police station, asserting that his name was unnecessarily dragged into the controversy without any factual basis.
The matter is now under legal scrutiny, with further developments awaited.
