Kolkata: Messi has been at the centre of controversy following a chaotic event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, where frustrated fans threw chairs and bottles after being disappointed by the football star’s short and restricted appearance.
Thousands of supporters had gathered at the venue after purchasing tickets priced as high as ₹12,000 (£100), expecting a longer interaction or exhibition match.
The Argentina and Inter Miami forward entered the stadium amid heavy security and was surrounded by officials, celebrities and political figures, which prevented much of the crowd from seeing him clearly. After walking around the pitch briefly and waving to supporters, Messi was escorted away after around 20 minutes, prompting visible anger among sections of the audience.
𝐎𝐡𝐡𝐡… 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧.
One of the greatest to ever play the game, Lionel Messi, arrived in Kolkata as part of the GOAT Tour — a moment that should’ve put the city and the country on the global sporting map. 🌍⚽
Instead, what was meant to be inspiring… pic.twitter.com/EGgCKkMVej
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 13, 2025
As security moved the footballer out of the stadium, several fans stormed the pitch, tore banners and tents, and hurled plastic chairs and water bottles towards the field. Police personnel intervened to regain control as panic spread across parts of the venue.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said that the events were deeply disturbing and announced a formal enquiry into the incident. Banerjee apologised to Messi and to sports lovers, stating that the enquiry committee would investigate lapses, assign responsibility and recommend steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
A spokesperson for Messi has said that the footballer fulfilled the time commitment agreed upon in advance and referred questions about the event’s organisation to the state government’s apology. Police have confirmed that the chief organiser of the private event has been arrested, while authorities are examining possible refund mechanisms for ticket holders.
The All India Football Federation has clarified that it had no involvement in the event, describing it as privately organised. Messi is visiting India as part of a promotional ‘GOAT tour’ covering multiple cities, including Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
The tour began earlier with the unveiling of a 70-foot statue of Messi in Kolkata, which was revealed virtually due to security concerns. Despite massive fan turnout and enthusiasm, expectations of a longer on-field engagement contributed to the backlash.
Political opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari has criticised the organisers sharply, calling the incident a betrayal of football fans and demanding a full refund for all ticket holders. Investigations are ongoing as authorities seek to restore public confidence after the disorder.
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