Scenes of chaos unfolded at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in India, earlier today, December 13, after Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance ended abruptly, leaving thousands of fans furious and disappointed.
Scenes of chaos unfolded at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in India, earlier today, December 13, after Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance ended abruptly, leaving thousands of fans furious and disappointed.
Supporters who had paid as much as 12,000 rupees to see the Argentina captain ripped up plastic seats, hurled bottles and stormed the pitch after the football icon was escorted away barely 20 minutes into the event.
Scenes of chaos unfolded at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in India, earlier today, December 13, after Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance ended abruptly, leaving thousands of fans furious and disappointed.
Lionel Messi, in India as part of his promotional GOAT tour, emerged onto the pitch to wave at the crowd but was largely hidden behind a heavy entourage of officials, celebrities and security personnel. When it became clear that his appearance was over and that no exhibition match would take place, tempers flared inside the packed stadium.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the disorder, as footage showed fans tearing down banners, smashing chairs and running onto the field.
Local media reported that many in the crowd had expected far more than a brief walkaround. The 2022 World Cup winner was widely believed to be taking part in a short exhibition game, according to AFP.
Scenes of chaos unfolded at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in India, earlier today, December 13, after Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance ended abruptly, leaving thousands of fans furious and disappointed.
One fan, speaking to Indian news agency ANI, voiced the frustration shared by many in attendance, saying: “Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi… Why did they call us then… We have got a ticket for 12,000 rupees, but we were not even able to see his face.”
Another supporter told the Press Trust of India that the cost of attending had been enormous for ordinary fans. “I paid Rs 5,000 for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians. The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame,” the fan said.
Lionel Messi was accompanied during his short visit by Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez and fellow Argentina international Rodrigo de Paul. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan also met the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner earlier in the day.
Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is known for its deep football culture despite India being largely dominated by cricket. Huge crowds regularly attend local derbies, and anticipation around Messi’s visit had reached fever pitch. Fans travelled from across the country, chanting his name, wearing Argentina jerseys and donning “I love Messi” headbands.
In the early hours before the event, thousands lined the streets and gathered outside Messi’s hotel in the hope of catching a glimpse of him.
Messi’s India tour had begun in Kolkata with the unveiling of a 70-foot statue of the player, built over 27 days by a 45-member crew. Due to security concerns, Lionel Messi appeared virtually at the unveiling.
Scenes of chaos unfolded at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in India, earlier today, December 13, after Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance ended abruptly, leaving thousands of fans furious and disappointed.
Following Saturday’s unrest, Banerjee announced an official enquiry and apologised to Lionel Messi and sports fans. “The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” she said on 𝕏.
A police official confirmed that the event’s “chief organiser” had been arrested, AFP reported, adding that authorities would also examine how ticket refunds could be arranged. The All India Football Federation said it had no involvement in the privately organised event.