Disorder erupts in eastern India after Lionel Messi’s brief appearance during his GOAT Tour disappoints thousands of fans who paid to see the football icon.
Chaos broke out at a major football stadium in eastern India after Lionel Messi abruptly left a highly anticipated public appearance, triggering anger, vandalism, and sharp criticism of event organizers.
The incident unfolded Saturday at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, where tens of thousands of fans had gathered to see the Argentine star during his three-day visit to India as part of his widely promoted “GOAT Tour.” Messi, one of the most celebrated players in football history, arrived earlier in the day to a rapturous welcome from supporters chanting his name and waving Argentina’s national flag.
Expectations were high, with many fans paying more than $100 for tickets amid promises of an extended appearance and a short exhibition match. Instead, Messi made only a brief circuit of the pitch, waved to the crowd, and exited the stadium earlier than scheduled, according to witnesses.
As word spread that the football icon had left, frustration quickly escalated. Sections of the crowd began pulling out seats, throwing water bottles onto the track, and tearing down temporary structures. Some fans breached barricades and ran onto the field before security forces restored order.
Read Also: Lionel Messi Shines With A Brace, Wins MLS Golden Boot Award
Local media reported damage to stadium property, though authorities did not immediately release an estimate of losses or confirm arrests.
“For me, watching Messi is a dream,” said 37-year-old businessman Nabin Chatterjee. “But because of mismanagement, I couldn’t even get a proper glimpse of him.”
Another supporter, Ajay Shah, told local reporters he had spent heavily to attend with his child. “I paid to see Messi, not chaos,” he said, accusing organizers and security personnel of poor crowd control.
Before leaving, Messi unveiled a towering 21-meter statue depicting him lifting the World Cup trophy, a moment that briefly electrified the crowd. However, the cancellation of the promised exhibition match fueled disappointment and anger.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later issued a public apology to Messi and fans, calling the incident unfortunate and ordering an official inquiry into the organization and security arrangements.
Messi is expected to continue his tour with stops in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, where a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is under consideration.
The 37-year-old football legend recently won his second consecutive MLS Most Valuable Player award after leading Inter Miami to a league title. He is also expected to captain Argentina later this year as the team prepares to defend its World Cup crown in North America.
The Kolkata unrest has raised broader questions about crowd management and expectations when global sports icons appear in countries with massive fan bases and limited infrastructure for events of such scale.
Africa Daily News, New York
