Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, October 5: The disappointment over the Messi match continues to linger among football fans in the state. Thousands of people spent a substantial amount of money to watch the world’s greatest football star but many were unable to catch even a glimpse of Lionel Messi. The new state government is now attempting to compensate those fans for their disappointment. Immediately after the Brazil vs India match, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that tickets for the India vs Uruguay match would be distributed free of cost. Those who had purchased tickets to watch Messi will now get an opportunity to attend the mega India vs Uruguay clash on October 6 without paying anything extra.

The state government is making arrangements for around 22,000 people who were deprived of the opportunity to watch Messi. According to the information available, the free tickets for the India vs Uruguay match will be issued on the basis of the online ticket details from the Messi match. Fans who had purchased tickets for the Messi match will therefore have to establish their eligibility through the relevant ticket information.

The free tickets will be distributed today, October 5, from 11 am to 5 pm. Those seeking the complimentary tickets will have to produce a valid government-issued identity document along with proof of their ticket purchase for the Messi match. Details of the ticket booked online will also have to be shown during the collection process.

The free tickets will be distributed from several locations across Kolkata and its surrounding areas. These include Mohit Moitra Mancha on Raja Manindra Road, Milan Manjuri Bagh Community Hall at Azad Hind Bagh, Abhayan Community Hall on James Long Sarani, Udayan Community Hall at Vivekananda Park, Shubhanandan Community Hall on AJC Bose Road, Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Bidhannagar Municipality Sports Complex and the Rajarhat-Gopalpur Swimming Pool.

Fans who had purchased tickets for the Messi match are therefore expected to reach one of these designated centres within the specified hours with their government identity proof and the necessary online ticket details. The arrangement has been made to provide them with an opportunity to attend the much-awaited India vs Uruguay match at Yuva Bharati Krirangan on October 6.