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Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated visit to India descended into disorder on Saturday, as crowd unrest forced the football icon to cut short his appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
The Argentina captain, who is in the country as part of his “GOAT Tour” across multiple cities, was scheduled to greet fans during a high-profile event that included the virtual unveiling of a towering 70-foot statue in his honour. Instead, his time inside the stadium lasted only around 20 minutes after frustration among supporters spilled over into violence.
Messi arrived on the pitch alongside teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, walking a brief lap and waving to the crowd amid chants of his name. However, he remained tightly surrounded by security and officials, leaving large sections of the packed venue unable to get a clear view. As it became apparent that his appearance would be limited, anger in the stands intensified.
Seats were torn from their fixings and hurled towards the pitch, while fans breached barriers and clashed with security personnel. Footage released by ANI showed debris scattered across the field and running track as police attempted to restore order.
Disappointed supporters voiced their anger over what they described as poor organisation and excessive focus on VIP access. “Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi,” one fan told ANI news agency. “Why did they call us then?
“We have got a ticket for 12,000 rupees ($130), but we were not even able to see his face.”
Another attendee, Eddie Lal Hmangaihzuala, who travelled nearly 1,500 kilometres from Mizoram, said: “I can’t believe there was so much mismanagement. Messi left quickly, I think he felt unsafe. I hardly got a glimpse of him.”
Businessman Nabin Chatterjee, 37, added: “For me, to watch Messi is a pleasure, a dream. But I have missed the chance to have a glimpse because of the mismanagement in the stadium.”
Others expressed similar frustration to local media. “Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes."
“All the leaders and ministers surrounded him and we couldn’t see anything."
“So much money, emotions, and time wasted,” one visibly upset supporter said.
Ajay Shah, who attended with his son, told Press Trust of India: “I paid $55 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.”
Tickets for the event reportedly sold out within minutes, with prices ranging from around 3,500 rupees to more than $100, sums many fans said represented a significant financial sacrifice.
As the situation deteriorated, Messi was escorted from the stadium before completing a full lap. The unrest overshadowed what had been planned as a landmark occasion in Indian football, including the unveiling of what organisers claim is the largest statue of a footballer ever created.
Messi is due to continue his tour with stops in Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, where he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics, a padel tournament and charitable events, with a possible meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also planned.
The scenes in Kolkata, however, cast a shadow over the opening leg of a tour that had promised a celebratory welcome for one of football’s most revered figures.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / 磊 周, Unsplash / Tim Bernhard
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