Earlier today, December 13, thousands of supporters were incensed and disappointed when Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated performance ended abruptly at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in India.
After the football legend was carried away just twenty minutes into the match, fans who had paid up to 12,000 rupees to watch the Argentina captain tore up plastic seats, threw bottles, and stormed the field.
During his promotional GOAT tour in India, Lionel Messi came onto the field to wave to the audience, but he was mainly obscured by a large group of officials, celebrities, and security guards. Tempers erupted inside the crowded stadium when it became apparent that his performance was over and that there would be no exhibition match.
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, expressed her “deep disturbed and shock” at the chaos after seeing footage of fans surging onto the field, breaking seats, and ripping down banners.
Many in the crowd had anticipated much more than a quick tour, according to local media. According to AFP, it was widely assumed that the 2022 World Cup champion was participating in a brief exhibition match.
Speaking to the Indian news agency ANI, one fan expressed the annoyance that many attendees felt, stating: “Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi… Then why did they call us? Despite having a 12,000 rupee ticket, we were unable to even glimpse his face.
The Press Trust of India was informed by another supporter that regular fans had to pay a hefty price to attend. “I came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians, and paid Rs 5,000 for the ticket. The fan claimed that the management was to blame for the police and military personnel’s selfies.
Rodrigo de Paul, an Argentina international, and Luis Suarez, an Inter Miami player, accompanied Lionel Messi during his brief visit. Earlier in the day, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan also had a meeting with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Despite cricket’s dominance in India, West Bengal’s metropolis, Kolkata, is renowned for its rich football culture. Local derbies are frequently attended by sizable audiences, and the excitement around Messi’s return had reached a fever pitch. Chanting his name, wearing Argentina jerseys, and sporting “I love Messi” headbands, fans traveled from all across the nation.
Thousands of people gathered outside Messi’s hotel and lined the streets in the early hours of the event in the hopes of seeing him.
A 70-foot statue of Messi, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew, was unveiled in Kolkata to kick off Messi’s India tour. Lionel Messi made a virtual appearance at the unveiling due to security concerns.
Banerjee apologized to Lionel Messi and sports fans after the disturbance on Saturday and announced a formal investigation. She stated on 𝕏, “The committee will conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.”
According to AFP, a police spokesperson stated that the “chief organizer” of the event had been taken into custody and said that they would also look into the possibility of arranging ticket refunds. According to the All India Football Federation, it was not involved in the privately run event.
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