‘Ugly, Grotesque Statue’: Mamata-Designed Football Sculpture To Be Removed From Salt Lake Stadium
‘Ugly, Grotesque Statue’: Mamata-Designed Football Sculpture To Be Removed From Salt Lake Stadium Published By, Last Updated: May 18, 2026, 23:47 IST West Bengal will
‘Ugly, Grotesque Statue’: Mamata-Designed Football Sculpture To Be Removed From Salt Lake Stadium Published By, Last Updated: May 18, 2026, 23:47 IST West Bengal will remove a football sculpture outside Salt Lake Stadium, Sports Minister Nisith Pramanik calls it "grotesque." The statue will be brought down. (Image: X) The West Bengal government has decided to remove the football-themed sculpture installed outside Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, with Sports Minister Nisith Pramanik calling the structure “grotesque" and lacking aesthetic appeal. The sculpture, conceptualised during the tenure of former chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, was unveiled in 2017 ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Installed near the VVIP gate of the stadium, it featured giant footballing legs merging into the Biswa Bangla logo, with the word “Joyi" written on the football. Speaking after the Indian Super League Kolkata derby between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC ended in a 1-1 draw on Sunday, Pramanik said, “Such an ugly-looking statue, two legs cut at torso and football above it does not make sense. It does not look aesthetically pleasing either, so we will not keep such a grotesque structure that has no meaning, and it will be taken down." The Minister also made a political remark linking the installation of the structure with the decline of the previous Trinamool Congress government.
“I feel that after this statue was installed, the bad days of the previous government started. Then the Messi controversy happened, and the government lost power," he said. Pramanik further announced infrastructure upgrades at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, including food courts for spectators. “We have made a few decisions about stadium infrastructure, including making a food court so that fans do not face issues when matches go on for a long period of time," he added. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 18, 2026, 23:47 IST News india ‘Ugly, Grotesque Statue’: Mamata-Designed Football Sculpture To Be Removed From Salt Lake Stadium Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.
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