Anger and disappointment marred Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated appearance in India after sections of fans turned hostile at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, following what many felt was an underwhelming and poorly managed event.
Thousands of supporters had packed the stadium on Saturday, some paying as much as 12,000 Indian rupees (about Sh17,000), hoping to catch a close glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami star.
While the atmosphere was initially festive with fans chanting, waving jerseys and donning “I love Messi” headbands frustration quickly set in when Messi’s appearance was brief and heavily shielded by security, officials and celebrities.
Messi walked around the pitch waving to fans but did not engage as expected, and he was escorted away after roughly 20 minutes. Moments later, tempers flared.
Some fans stormed the pitch, ripped banners, and hurled plastic chairs and water bottles towards the field, forcing security to intervene.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the scenes as “deeply disturbing and shocking,” announcing an inquiry into the incident and apologising to both Messi and football fans.
Police later confirmed that the chief organiser of the event had been arrested, while authorities are exploring ways to refund ticket holders.
The incident occurred during Messi’s “GOAT Tour” of India, a promotional series spanning Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
The tour had kicked off with the unveiling of a 70-foot statue of Messi in Kolkata, which the footballer attended virtually due to security concerns. Fans had also been expecting a short exhibition match, which did not materialise.
Several supporters expressed frustration at seeing politicians and celebrities dominate the spotlight. “We paid to see Messi, not leaders,” one fan told local media, while another said he had spent nearly a month’s salary to attend.
The All India Football Federation distanced itself from the event, noting it was privately organised. Messi’s representatives have yet to comment.
Despite the chaos, the episode underlined Messi’s immense global appeal even in cricket-mad India and the risks of inflated expectations when organisation falls short.
