Indian soccer chief Kalyan Chaubey has strongly criticized the West Bengal authorities over the chaos that unfolded throughout soccer celebrity Lionel Messi’s occasion at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, warning that the fallout may injury town’s status for many years.
Talking a day after the incident, Chaubey stated the dysfunction surrounding the high-profile occasion mirrored a severe lack of preparedness and managerial competence on the a part of the state’s sports activities administration. He described the episode as “very unlucky” for Kolkata, a metropolis lengthy considered the heartland of Indian soccer.
“Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the many world’s biggest footballers and are adopted by hundreds of thousands throughout the globe. Soccer is performed in almost 210 nations. When an incident like this occurs, it’s observed internationally,” Chaubey stated in a video shared by ANI.
The All India Soccer Federation (AIFF) president famous that Kolkata has efficiently hosted legendary gamers and occasions prior to now, citing visits by icons resembling Pel, Diego Maradona, Lev Yashin, Oliver Kahn and Lothar Matthäus. “All these applications have been carried out with dignity. What occurred at Salt Lake Stadium yesterday was avoidable,” he added.
Chaubey stated the quick affect could be felt by followers who had spent giant sums to attend the occasion, solely to be left disillusioned. Nevertheless, he warned that the long-term penalties could possibly be way more damaging, significantly at a time when India is looking for to challenge itself as a world sporting vacation spot.
“It will value India way more, particularly when the Prime Minister is attempting to painting India as a smooth energy by way of sport,” Chaubey stated, referring to the nation’s ambitions to host main worldwide occasions, together with the 2036 Olympic Video games, the 2030 Commonwealth Video games and the Olympic Video games.
Based on Chaubey, such incidents threat undermining India’s credibility throughout aggressive worldwide bidding processes. “If you go to bid for world occasions, different nations additionally compete. Questions could also be raised about whether or not Kolkata or West Bengal is ready to host worldwide competitions, or whether or not the administration is mature sufficient,” he stated.
Calling the episode a setback not only for the state however for Indian soccer as a complete, Chaubey warned that the repercussions may linger for years. “It will value Bengal and Kolkata for the subsequent 50 years. Each Bengali who loves soccer and needs Bengal on the world map will endure due to what occurred,” he stated.
The Messi occasion chaos has triggered widespread criticism and renewed scrutiny of occasion administration requirements in Indian sport, significantly because the nation eyes a bigger function on the worldwide sporting stage.
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