Authorities in West Bengal have decided to remove a 70-foot statue of Argentine football star Lionel Messi in Kolkata due to safety risks. Engineers from the state’s Public Works Department inspected the fiberglass and iron structure after local residents raised complaints and declared it unsafe. The statue, installed last December to mark Messi’s ‘GOAT’ tour, was found to be structurally unstable and swaying in the wind.

State legislator Sharadwut Mukherjee confirmed that the statue was unsafe and noted the difficulty of removing it because of its location near a busy road and subway. To prevent accidents, officials have tied the statue with heavy nylon ropes and set up barricades to restrict traffic and public access. Local authorities are now searching for an alternative site for relocation.

According to reports, a 45-member team had worked continuously for 27 days to construct the massive statue, which Messi inaugurated virtually via remote control. The unveiling event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium was also marked by some incidents of unrest.