What was meant to be a landmark occasion for Indian football fans turned into chaos at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) on Saturday. During the first leg of Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour India 2025, the Argentine World Cup winner’s planned lap of honour was abruptly cut short due to massive crowd unrest and security breaches.
The disorder was primarily fueled by the visible frustration of fans who, despite paying hefty ticket prices, could not get a clear view of the football icon. As Messi began his lap, he was immediately surrounded by a dense entourage of politicians, organizers, and security, effectively blocking him from the view of spectators in the stands.
Fans Voice Anger Over ‘Scam’
Disgruntled fans expressed their anger, accusing organizers of prioritizing VVIPs over ticket holders. Videos circulated online showing chairs being ripped out of the stands, and various projectiles—including bottles—being hurled onto the pitch.
“Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi… We have got a ticket for 12 thousand, but we were not even able to see his face,” one angry supporter lamented. Another fan described the event as “absolutely terrible,” saying, “He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him… So much money, emotions, and time wasted.” The crowd’s frustration escalated when they realized Messi would not be taking a kick or a penalty, as some may have hoped.
Official Response and Aftermath
Due to the security breach and the crowd’s reaction, the World Cup winner was quickly escorted out of the stadium, cutting short his appearance. The event chaos overshadowed the day’s earlier highlights, which included Messi virtually unveiling a towering 70-foot statue of himself in Lake Town, Kolkata.
Following the mismanagement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued an official apology to the football legend and the disappointed fans. She stated, “I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident.”
The Chief Minister announced the formation of an enquiry committee to investigate the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The Kolkata DGP also confirmed the detention of the main organiser and announced that tickets will be refunded to the disappointed spectators.