New Delhi, Dec 13 (LatestNewsX) – Fans in Kolkata have long shown their love for the beautiful game, but their excitement turned into frustration on Saturday when Lionel Messi’s highly‑anticipated visit didn’t end with cheers.
Messi, who was in India as part of his GOAT Tour, was forced to cut short a ceremonial stop at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) after a surge of supporters overwhelmed the venue. The crowd’s anger escalated quickly, with bottles flying and security staff rushing to escort the Argentine star off the pitch within minutes.
Many attendees, some of whom paid top‑tier ticket prices, reported that they never got a glimpse of Messi—neither in person nor on the stadium’s giant screens—even after waiting for hours. A tight security cordon and the presence of politicians and dignitaries in the premium seats made watching the star even harder, adding to the crowd’s irritation.
As tempers flared, the situation inside the stadium worsened. Banners were vandalised, seating was damaged, and chairs were strewn across the floor, spotlighting serious shortcomings in crowd control at one of India’s largest sporting arenas. Outside, furious supporters told the press that Messi had spent barely a few minutes on the field before being escorted away.
The incident sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with fans denouncing the organisers for “shambolic planning” and “complete mismanagement.” One fan lamented, “We paid thousands just to watch politicians take selfies while Messi disappeared in minutes,” on X. Another added, “This is not crowd trouble—this is organiser failure.”
Several commentators noted that this was not the first time a major event has devolved into chaos. One widely shared post asked, “Every big sporting event follows the same script. When will we finally learn?”
Earlier in the day, Messi had virtually unveiled a 70‑foot iron statue at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, an imposing tribute in which he holds the FIFA World Cup trophy. Finished in just 40 days, the sculpture drew admiration and applause from supporters throughout the city.
Yet the turmoil at Salt Lake Stadium dimmed what should have been a unifying moment for Indian football fans, once again highlighting the disconnect between the passion in the stands and the professionalism behind the scenes.
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