Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated visit to India has experienced a tumultuous beginning. Chaos erupted as frustrated fans attempted to vent their anger, throwing bottles and trying to vandalize the Salt Lake Stadium after many were unable to catch more than a fleeting glimpse of the football superstar.
According to reports, numerous ticket holders expressed discontent as they failed to see Messi either in person or on the stadium’s large screens, despite having waited for hours for the event. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took to social media to express her shock over the situation, extending her apologies to Messi and the fans who expected more from the event after purchasing tickets.
Banerjee announced plans to form a committee tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. This committee will work to identify those responsible and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
As tensions escalated in the stands, angry fans—many donning Messi’s Argentina jerseys—threw seats and attempted to breach security barriers, making their way onto the field. Security personnel struggled to control the situation as fans expressed their dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, Messi had already departed from the venue.
Messi’s tour, aptly named the “GOAT India Tour,” was scheduled to take him from Kolkata to Hyderabad and then on to Mumbai before concluding in New Delhi on Monday. Accompanying him were his longtime teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. Earlier in the day, Messi had participated in a remote unveiling of a 21-metre statue of himself in Kolkata, which had initially generated excitement among the fans.
Despite the rocky start, there remains hope that the remainder of Messi’s tour will unfold more smoothly and provide an opportunity for fans to celebrate their legend.
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