বাংলায় পড়ুন: মহামেডান স্পোর্টিং ক্লাবের দায়িত্বে এসে কী বললেন হুমায়ুন কবীর?

A day earlier, former president Amiruddin Bobby had stepped down from his role, making way for fresh leadership at the iconic Red Road club. On Friday afternoon, Humayun Kabir arrived at the club tent, where he was formally welcomed following a committee meeting. Club officials felicitated the newly appointed president with flowers and a customised jersey, while supporters gathered with hopes of a brighter future for the Black-and-White Brigade.

Speaking to the media after assuming office, Humayun Kabir admitted that the club is currently facing serious financial difficulties but assured supporters that efforts are already underway to stabilise the situation.

“We are trying to solve the financial problems. The supporters need to give us some time and remain patient. We are fully committed to preserving the tradition and heritage of this club,” he said.

The new president also addressed concerns regarding political influence in football administration. Since Humayun Kabir is an active political figure and current MLA, questions were raised about whether politics would impact the functioning of the club. Responding to the issue, he made it clear that Mohammedan Sporting’s football matters would remain separate from politics.

“It is easy to say these things, but much harder to implement. Kalyan Chaubey is the president of the AIFF and was earlier associated with politics. I am also a member of the current Legislative Assembly. But I can assure everyone that there will be no political discussion inside the club,” he stated.

Supporters are now hoping that the arrival of the new president will help the club recover from its ongoing crisis and rebuild for the upcoming season. According to reports, Mohammedan Sporting currently carries a debt close to ₹14 crore, making the situation extremely challenging for the management.

Apart from clearing pending salaries of footballers and staff, the club also faces the difficult task of building a competitive squad for the new season. However, fans believe that under Humayun Kabir’s leadership, the club may finally begin its journey back toward stability and success.

‘মেসি ভগবান’কে ফ্রেম বন্দি করতে ভিন্ন রাজ্যের বাসিন্দারা, ২ নং গেটে একী কান্ড?

The ticket redemption process began at the end of last week. On the final day, fans coming to redeem their tickets displayed remarkable enthusiasm. Around the Yuva Bharati Stadium in Kolkata, Messi fans from different states were spotted gathering.

On this day, Argentine jerseys with Messi’s picture and the text “Welcome Messi” were being sold. Additionally, jerseys featuring East Bengal along with Argentina were available for ₹300. One seller stated, “Jersey sales have been quite good over the past few days. With Messi coming, we hope sales will increase even more on the day of the event.”

A buyer mentioned, “Messi is our god. To see him in person and wear his jersey—both are a huge privilege for me. We can’t miss this.”

Among the fans redeeming tickets, there were couples who were not residents of Kolkata. A pair from Odisha said, “We are Messi fans. We came here just to see our god in person.”

Fans like Sadanon from Manipur and Mounten and Mira from Assam also caught attention. A group of 30 friends came from Shillong. One of them, Danny, said, “Messi is the best among all footballers. If he had stayed a little longer in the stadium, our joy would have been even greater.”

In front of Gate No. 2 at Yuva Bharati, Andruman from Kerala was selling Messi stickers. He said, “I have been collecting these stickers for several years. I even designed some of them myself. Since Messi’s Kerala tour was canceled, I came to Kolkata. Messi has been my favorite footballer since childhood.”

Even before Messi’s arrival, Kolkata was already buzzing with Messi fever. Football fans were seen at every corner, eagerly waiting to see their beloved star, holding jerseys and stickers in hand.

Meet & Greet and Virtual Statue Unveiling

The day kicks off at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday with a Meet & Greet event. From 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., the virtual unveiling of LM10’s statue will take place. Following that, he will head to the Youth Stadium, where stars will be arriving one after another:

11:30 a.m.: Shah Rukh Khan

12:00 p.m.: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

Legendary cricketer Sourav Ganguly will also be present

A special session of football, celebrity interaction, and felicitation will run from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. After that, Messi will head to the airport and fly to Hyderabad at 2:00 p.m. In all, it will be just 12.5 hours – but an emotionally charged visit.

Unprecedented Security Arrangements

With the presence of the Chief Minister, Shah Rukh Khan, and Sourav Ganguly, security measures are being taken to the highest level. Around 2,000 police personnel will be deployed under the leadership of the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate. Inspectors, SIs, and constables from various parts of the city will be on duty, alongside the RAF. Strict traffic control and special parking guidelines have been prepared.

The city has seen legends like Pelé, Maradona, and Messi before, yet the excitement of his return is unique. The young talent of 2011 has now become a legend. Once again, Kolkata will witness history, and the city will rediscover itself amid the frenzy of Messi mania.

Messi’s Main Event in Kolkata — 13 December

9:30 AM — Special programme at his hotel with sponsors

Around 10 AM — Departs for the Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan)

At the stadium, he will attend the Mohun Bagan ‘Messi’ All-Stars vs Diamond Harbour ‘Messi’ All-Stars match, which he will watch from the ground

After the match, he will interact with the players of both teams

Later, from the hotel, he will virtually inaugurate a 70-foot statue of Messi

By afternoon, he will fly to Hyderabad

On 14 December, he will take part in various events in Mumbai, and on 15 December, in Delhi. During the tour, he is also expected to meet Shah Rukh Khan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Didn’t get tickets? Don’t worry! Where to watch Messi?

Even though many people could not get tickets to the stadium, the good news is that Messi’s entire tour can be enjoyed right from home.

Messi’s Kolkata tour will be streamed live on the Sony LIV app and website.
(A Sony LIV subscription is required.)

Selected events of the GOAT India Tour 2025 will also be broadcast on—

Prasar Bharati YouTube channel

DD Sports TV channel

Preparations are at full swing everywhere from Kolkata airport to the Salt Lake Stadium. The city’s streets are filled with Messi posters, fans singing, flags and blue-and-white lights reflecting Argentina’s colours. Many say that seeing Messi once in their lifetime is their greatest dream come true. Kolkata, the football-loving city, feels like it has once again transformed into the football capital of the world. Just a few more hours — and India will see its dream man. All of Bengal waits eagerly for the Messi Magic.

গড়াপেটার অভিযোগে গ্রেফতার আরও ১, মুখ খুললেন লাল-হলুদ শীর্ষ কর্তা

Sources reveal that last Sunday, police arrested Akash Das in connection with a match-fixing case. During the investigation, Sujay Bhowmik’s name came up. Their close relationship and financial transactions drew the attention of the police. It is alleged that Sujay was involved in fixing several local football matches in Kolkata.

According to police sources, the accused not only fixed matches in exchange for money but also misused technology in the process. Cases have been filed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, and both men were arrested by Belgharia Police. Investigators believe more names could surface as the inquiry continues.

Officials of the “Big Three” Kolkata clubs have expressed satisfaction over the police action. Mohun Bagan secretary Srinjoy Bose said, “I think these arrests are completely justified. We had also heard about their involvement. The police acted at the right time—this is a good sign for football. The IFA should have increased monitoring earlier.”

East Bengal official Debabrata Sarkar said, “The first credit goes to the IFA, then to the Sports Minister. He wanted the matter to come to light. The Police Commissioner also deserves thanks. When match-fixing is destroying the integrity of football worldwide, Bengal has shown how to take a stand against it.”

Police claim the investigation is still in its early stages. In the coming days, several other individuals associated with football organizations may be questioned. The police are determined to uncover the masterminds behind this “invisible game” that threatens the spirit of the sport.

গড়াপেটার অভিযোগে গ্রেফতার শতাব্দীপ্রাচীন ক্লাবের দুই কর্তা

Police sources said that the match-fixing ring was also being run through the misuse of information technology. As a result, a case has been filed at Belgharia police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act. The two were called in for questioning on Sunday afternoon and were arrested after lengthy interrogations in the evening.

Match-Fixing Shadows Club’s Internal Conflicts

Football circles claim that Akash Das was responsible for team formation at one of Kolkata’s historic clubs. He had been assembling teams for the club for the past three years. Club sources said that due to financial difficulties, the club’s officials had given him this responsibility. However, the other officials claimed that they had had no contact with Rahul Saha over the past three months. There is little detailed information available about Rahul Saha.

Match-Fixing Allegations Have Surfaced Before

Earlier this year, during the Kolkata League, match-fixing allegations had surfaced against Khidderpore and Messers Clubs. Complaints had been filed against Khidderpore’s Abhik Guha and Messers’ two players, Muslim Molla and Sannik Murmu. The police investigation began based on reports from organizations working against match-fixing in coordination with the IFA.

A few days ago, during a meeting with IFA officials, Kolkata police stated that they had obtained some important information regarding match-fixing. This was followed by the double arrest on Sunday night.

Police claim that the mobile phones and financial transaction records of the two arrested officials are being examined. Investigators are also looking into whether there is any connection with international betting syndicates. The incident has caused a major stir in Kolkata’s football circles. Some in the football community say, “Such incidents are tarnishing the image of Kolkata football. The IFA needs to take stricter action.”