Lionel Messi’s much-awaited visit to Kolkata as part of the G.O.A.T. Tour on Saturday ended in disappointment and chaos for thousands of fans who had gathered at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan, also known as Salt Lake Stadium. Despite paying high ticket prices ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000, many fans claimed they could not even get a proper glimpse of the Argentine football legend.
Messi, who is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, arrived at the stadium at around 11:15 am and stayed for approximately 20 minutes. However, due to crowd unrest and poor management, the event was cut short, leaving fans angry and frustrated.
Fans Angry Over Poor Visibility and Short Appearance
Soon after Messi entered the stadium, fans realised that they would not be able to see him clearly. Security personnel, organisers, and special guests surrounded the footballer, blocking the view from the stands. Messi was expected to take a full lap of the stadium to greet fans, but this did not happen.
As disappointment grew, some fans began throwing chairs and bottles in anger. Several people also jumped onto the ground and damaged canopies set up for the event. The situation became unsafe, forcing the organisers and security team to quickly escort Messi out of the stadium.
Many fans later complained that they felt cheated after spending a large amount of money and travelling long distances to attend the event.
Event Cut Short, Celebrities Miss Programme
Due to the chaos, several high-profile guests were unable to participate in the programme. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were all scheduled to be present but could not attend as the event ended abruptly.
Promoter Satadru Dutta, who organised the G.O.A.T. Tour event, along with security officials, decided to remove Messi from the venue to ensure his safety. The sudden end to the programme added to the frustration of the crowd.
Chief Minister Apologises, Orders Enquiry
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later apologised for the incident and announced an enquiry into the mismanagement. In a post on X, she said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by what happened at the stadium.
She apologised to Lionel Messi and his fans and said that the state government would take the matter seriously. Banerjee announced the formation of an enquiry committee headed by retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, with senior government officials as members. The committee has been asked to investigate the incident, fix responsibility, and suggest steps to prevent such events in the future.
Police Use Mild Force, Organiser Arrested
As tensions rose, police and the Rapid Action Force used mild force to control the crowd and prevent further damage to the stadium. Some fans accused politicians and ministers of taking up most of Messi’s time, leaving little for the public.
One angry fan told ANI, “He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders surrounded him. We couldn’t see anything. He didn’t even kick a ball. So much money and emotion wasted.”
Following the incident, an FIR was registered and main organiser Satadru Dutta was arrested. Confirming the arrest, Jawed Shamim, Additional Director General (Law and Order), said the organisers had promised to refund ticket money to fans. Authorities are now examining how the refunds will be carried out.