Fans who gathered in large numbers to see football legend Lionel Messi in Kolkata were left deeply disappointed after the star exited the venue within just ten minutes, triggering chaos and protests at the stadium. The incident took place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), where thousands of fans had assembled after purchasing high-priced tickets.
Supporters spent between ₹5,000 and ₹12,000 on tickets and waited for hours to catch a glimpse of their idol. However, Messi’s brief appearance on the field and sudden exit sparked anger among the crowd. Frustrated fans began protesting inside the stadium, with some throwing bottles and others damaging hoardings.
As the situation grew tense, security personnel intervened and worked to bring the crowd under control. Officials reportedly asked spectators to vacate certain sections to prevent further escalation.
Several fans openly expressed their anger over what they called poor event management. One disappointed supporter said, “Only politicians and film stars were close to Messi. Then why were we invited? We paid ₹12,000 for tickets but could not even see his face properly.” Many accused the organisers of misleading the public and failing to manage expectations.
Earlier in the day, Lionel Messi had received a grand welcome in Kolkata as part of his three-day India tour. He virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue alongside Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and West Bengal minister Sujit Bose. However, following the unrest at the stadium, reports suggest that Messi cancelled his scheduled meetings with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly.
Citing security concerns, Messi reportedly headed to the airport earlier than planned and departed for Hyderabad, the next stop on his India tour. The incident has raised serious questions about crowd management and event planning for high-profile international appearances in India.
