Kolkata, June 10 -- The Calcutta high court on Wednesday granted interim protection to former state sports minister Aroop Biswas against coercive police action in connection with the chaos at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium when football legend Lionel Messi made a brief appearance on December 13.

A single bench of justice Saugata Bhattacharyya said, "Every resident of Kolkata felt ashamed because of the fiasco. The events were conducted smoothly in other metro cities."

"He (Biswas) is putting his hand around Messi's waist. How can he do this? Is he Messi's childhood friend? Does it not breach the security?" the bench said.

Messi's much-anticipated visit to the stadium in Bidhannagar, as part of the "GOAT (Greatest of All Time) Tour", ended...