Overview
- The state government removed the controversial half‑torso football sculpture from outside Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday as crews dismantled the installation near the VVIP gate.
- Sports Minister Nisith Pramanik had publicly criticised the piece’s appearance and announced its takedown while outlining a set of infrastructure changes for the stadium.
- The removed sculpture featured giant footballing legs merging into the Biswa Bangla logo with the word 'Joyi' on the ball, a design credited to former chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
- Officials framed the action as both an aesthetic correction and a broader rebranding effort, saying the BJP‑led government will replace Biswa Bangla signage with the Ashoka emblem at public sites.
- The statue was installed in 2017 ahead of the FIFA U‑17 World Cup and had drawn mixed reactions from supporters and locals, making it a long‑running local symbol and a focus of political commentary.