The first leg of his Indian tour in Kolkata started with anticipation, hope and excitement but ended in chaos. Fans arrived at Salt Lake’s Vivekananda Yuvabharati Stadium eager to catch a glimpse of one of football’s greatest legends, but left angry, frustrated and deeply disappointed.
According to eyewitnesses, Messi’s planned lap of the stadium was abandoned after he was mobbed by politicians, officials, celebrities and paparazzi after entering the pitch. As security struggled to control the congestion, his interaction with fans was severely curtailed, fueling unrest in the stands as reports spread that he would not be staying long.
Tensions came to a head when Messi left the pitch with less than 10 minutes left, sparking anger among sections of the crowd. Fans questioned the scheduling and access arrangements despite paying premium prices, saying Messi remained surrounded by VVIPs so they didn’t even catch a glimpse of the superstar.
Frustration spilled over like bottles were thrown, advertising surfaces were damaged and security personnel were forced to intervene. Messi’s brief, heavily guarded exit became a flashpoint, with chaotic scenes from the stadium soon flooding social media – in stark contrast to his visit to Kolkata.
‘PATHETIC EVENT’
One fan said nearly 50 people surrounded Messi, leaving the crowd with only a brief wave or two from the superstar.
“It’s very disappointing that after paying such a high amount. They had 50 people around him and for once we couldn’t even see him… He just waved a few times and that’s it,” said the fan.
One fan called the event a “scam” and said people’s emotions were exploited. Fans also said that they were excited to see Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, but he too did not turn up at the venue.
“It was an absolutely pathetic event. He only came for ten minutes. All the politicians, ministers and company officials surrounded him so we didn’t see anything. He didn’t even kick, no penalty, nothing at all. They also said Shah Rukh Khan was coming but he didn’t. Messi was brought in for ten minutes and then he left – it was a total fraud. We saw so many people money and emotions.”
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi says, “Absolutely horrible incident. He came only for 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We didn’t see anything. He didn’t miss a single kick or a single penalty. They said they will bring pic.twitter.com/Rpko4UwlLW— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
One fan demanded a refund, accused the organizers of cheating participants and called it a black day for Kolkata, a city where football is considered sacred.
A fan said: “Seeing the total chaos, the management, the authorities, it was absolute nonsense. All the people you see here love football. We all wanted to see Messi but it was a total scam. We want our money back… The management was so bad. It’s a black day for Calcutta. Calcutta is famous for football and we love football, we love their kids, but the others there were nothing at all, to be with them people… We are very hurt.”
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: A fan of star football player Lionel Messi says, “… To see the utter chaos, the management, the authorities, it was absolutely senseless. All the people you see here love football. We all wanted to see Messi but it was a total scam. We want our money pic.twitter.com/8yOMxrw79H— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
The day started on a celebratory note at the Sree Bhumi Sports Club, where Messi virtually unveiled the 70-foot-tall statue alongside Minister Sujit Bose and Shah Rukh Khan. Later, he was supposed to meet Mamata Banerjee and Sourav Ganguly, but following the riots at the stadium and security concerns, the Argentine reportedly left for the airport early, cut short his engagements and left for Hyderabad.
MAMATA BANERJEE APOLOGIZES
After the riots at the Salt Lake Stadium and Messi’s early departure, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologized on Xexpressing regret for the mismanagement and both Messi and Kolkata football fans who failed to get a proper glimpse of the Argentine superstar.
“I am deeply concerned and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed at the Salt Lake Stadium today. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favorite footballer Lionel Messi,” Mamata Banerjee wrote on X.
“I sincerely apologize to Lionel Messi as well as all sports lovers and his fans for the unfortunate incident,” she added.
The Bengal chief minister assured that an investigation into the mismanagement would be carried out and promised swift action to address the concerns of football fans.
“I am setting up an inquiry committee under the chairmanship of Chief Justice (V) Ashima Kumar Ray, whose members include the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Mountain Affairs. The committee will conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, fix responsibility and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in future,” she added.
ORGANIZER DETENTED
After chaos erupted at the site, the event the main organizer, Satadru Das, was detained for questioning. West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar later confirmed that the situation was under control and that law and order had been restored.
Inspector General (Law and Order) Javed Shamim echoed these sentiments and said the situation was calm now and accountability would follow.
“At this point we cannot say who is responsible. The investigation has started and whoever is found responsible will be fixed,” Shamim said.
Police officials confirmed that organizers had offered refunds to fans who missed Messi, acknowledging the frustration and disappointment among fans.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR MESI?
After a botched start to his India tour in Kolkata, where poor crowd management at the Salt Lake Stadium led to chaos and disappointed fans, Lionel Messi will continue his visit to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. With leg drawing criticism in Kolkata, the remaining plan will be closely monitored to make the execution smoother.
Messi’s next stop is Hyderabad on December 13. The evening will revolve around the 7v7 exhibition match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, scheduled for 7:00 pm, featuring Messi alongside Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The event will also include a music concert celebrating Messi’s career, combining football and entertainment for the fans.
On December 14, the tour moves to Mumbai for a packed day of performances. Messi will first participate in the Padel Cup at the Cricket Club of India at 3:30 p.m., followed by a celebrity soccer match at 4:00 p.m. Later, at 5pm, they will attend an event at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, followed by a charity fashion show highlighting the philanthropic side of the tour.
The visit to India ends in Delhi on December 15. Messi is due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi before attending an event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium at 1.30pm where Minerva Academy players will be felicitated, concluding the tour with a focus on local football development.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
December 13, 2025
