What was meant to be a historic and celebratory moment for Indian football fans quickly unraveled into chaos on Saturday, as Lionel Messi’s much anticipated visit to Kolkata ended in anger, confusion, and damage at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Thousands of fans had gathered at the iconic venue, many paying as much as 12,000 rupees, just for the chance to see the Argentine superstar in person. For many, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Messi was scheduled to make a ceremonial walk of honour around the pitch, acknowledging fans who had come from across the city and beyond.
Messi did step onto the pitch and waved briefly to the crowd. But the moment felt rushed. Surrounded by a heavy presence of officials, security personnel, and invited guests, he remained largely obscured from view. Within minutes, it became clear that the football legend would not be staying long.
Less than 20 minutes after his arrival, Messi exited the stadium earlier than expected. For fans who had waited hours and paid heavily for tickets, the disappointment was immediate and intense. Many said they could barely see his face, let alone feel part of the moment they had paid for.
Frustration soon spilled over into open unrest. Angry fans began tearing out plastic seats from the stands and throwing water bottles onto the track. Some stormed the pitch, while others vandalised banners, tents, and event decorations inside the stadium. Security struggled to regain control as emotions ran high.
One fan, Ajay Shah, who attended the event with his son, expressed his anger in an interview with PTI. He said he paid 5,000 rupees for his ticket and came to see Messi, not politicians or officials. According to him, security personnel were busy taking selfies, and poor event planning robbed fans of the experience they were promised.
The incident has sparked widespread criticism of the organisers, with many questioning why expectations were not better managed. Online, fans accused event planners of prioritising VIP access over the paying public, turning what should have been a joyful football moment into a frustrating spectacle.
What should have been a memorable chapter in Messi’s India tour instead ended as a cautionary tale about crowd management, communication, and the consequences of disappointing passionate fans.
