The start of Lionel Messi’s tour in India was far from smooth. Chaos erupted as fans escalated tensions by throwing objects, tearing seats, and even rushing the pitch after Messi made a short appearance, which was heavily moderated by his entourage.
At Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, videos showed fans hurling torn seats and other items onto the field just 20 minutes into the event. Several people were seen climbing the fence and tossing even more onto the field, as reported by local media.
One frustrated fan expressed to ANI, “Messi was only surrounded by coaches and actors. What was the point of calling us? We paid 12,000 rupees ($130) for tickets, and we couldn’t even see his face.” It’s, uh, disappointing when you think about it.
Despite attempts to manage the situation, organizers for Messi, who plays for Inter Miami and the Argentina national team, did not respond to inquiries regarding the incident.
Messi’s tour is packed with activities, including concerts, youth soccer clinics, a padel tournament, and charity events across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her regret about the day’s events and announced an investigation into the chaos.
In a post on X, she stated, “I am extremely upset and shocked by the mismanagement at Salt Lake Stadium today,” acknowledging that she was en route when the disturbances unfolded. She went on to apologize to Messi and his fans for the incident and reassured everyone that a committee would be formed to look into what happened.
Traditionally, West Bengal, along with Kerala and Goa, is a hub for soccer enthusiasts in India, despite cricket being the more popular sport.
Interestingly, Diego Maradona, another Argentine soccer legend, had visited Kolkata twice, notably unveiling a statue of himself in 2017. Messi himself had played in a friendly match against Venezuela at the same stadium in 2011 and recently virtually unveiled a towering 70-foot statue of himself in Kolkata on Saturday.
