Kolkata (West Bengal)— The Kolkata leg of Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour descended into chaos on Saturday after angry fans vandalised parts of Salt Lake Stadium, alleging poor event management and unmet promises during the much-anticipated appearance of the Argentine football icon.
Trouble broke out soon after Messi left the stadium earlier than expected. Supporters who had paid steep ticket prices attempted to break gates between the stands and hurled bottles, expressing frustration over what they described as a fleeting and inaccessible appearance by the global superstar.
Several disappointed fans told ANI that Messi was on stage for barely 10 minutes and remained surrounded by politicians and dignitaries, leaving the general audience unable to see him properly. Many complained that he neither interacted with fans nor took part in any on-field activity, contrary to expectations created ahead of the event.
“Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn’t see anything. He didn’t take a single kick or a single penalty. So much money, emotions and time wasted,” said an angry supporter.
Another fan, who had attended the event with his child, called it a “scam,” claiming the excitement quickly turned into disappointment once Messi arrived and was whisked away without meaningful engagement with the crowd.
A visibly upset supporter said he had purchased a ticket worth ₹12,000 but could not even catch a glimpse of Messi’s face. “Only leaders and actors were surrounding him. Why did they call us then?” he asked.
Adding to the resentment were claims that organisers had promised the presence of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, who did not appear at the event, further fuelling anger among attendees.
Earlier in the day, Messi had virtually inaugurated a 70-foot-tall statue of himself at Lake Town, alongside West Bengal Minister and Sree Bhumi Sporting Club president Sujit Bose. The massive iron statue, depicting Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, celebrates Argentina’s historic 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar and has been hailed as a landmark tribute by fans.
Messi arrived in Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday to a rapturous welcome, with thousands of supporters gathering across the city to greet the football legend. His popularity in West Bengal was on full display, with fans lining streets and public spaces in hopes of seeing him in person.
However, the disorder at Salt Lake Stadium cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory occasion, raising serious questions about crowd management, event planning and the handling of fan expectations during one of the most high-profile sporting visits the city has witnessed in recent years.
