What should have been a landmark moment for Indian football descended into chaos in Kolkata on Saturday. Lionel Messi’s first visit to India saw his Salt Lake Stadium event cut short, forcing the Argentina captain to exit within 20 minutes of arriving. Fans breaching barricades and entering the pitch overshadowed the celebration and left many disheartened.
How Did the Event Unravel So Quickly?
Problems began shortly after Messi arrived at the stadium at around 11:30 AM, accompanied by Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. The football star was immediately crowded by officials, organisers, and dignitaries on the field. This created a tight circle around him, severely restricting the view for the thousands of fans in the stands who had paid significant sums for tickets. As chants of “Messi! Messi!” filled the air, frustration began to boil over.
What Sparked the Anger Among the Fans?
The core of the anger was the stark disparity between what fans paid for and what they experienced. Ticket prices for the event ranged from ₹4,500 to nearly ₹20,000, a substantial amount for many. “People have spent a month’s salary to see Messi. We came to watch Messi, not politicians,” one fan, Ajay Shah, told PTI. With their view blocked by officials on the field and Messi visible only on giant screens for most, the sense of betrayal grew. The final trigger was the perceived mismanagement that prioritized a select few over the paying public.
What Was the On-Ground Chaos Like?
The frustration soon turned into rage. Trouble started soon after Messi reached the stadium around 11:30 AM, along with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. The footballer was quickly surrounded on the field by officials, organisers, and dignitaries. Police struggled to regain control as chairs were ripped out and hurled, causing damage to the stadium. Organizer Satadru Dutta’s frantic appeals on the public address system—warning that Messi would leave if the crowd wasn’t cleared—went unheeded in the frenzy.
What Were the Aftermath and Reactions?
Amid the boos and confusion, which saw state sports ministers and club officials still attempting to take photographs with Messi, the football icon made a quick exit. The incident drew sharp criticism, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying she was “deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement.” Messi later flew to Hyderabad, where his tour continued with a more controlled schedule. The Kolkata event, however, ended as a stark lesson in poor planning and crowd management for a city passionate about its football.
Key Immediate FAQs:
Q: Why did Messi leave the Kolkata event so quickly?
A: Messi left Salt Lake Stadium just 20 minutes after arriving because of serious security issues and chaos, as fans broke barricades and rushed onto the pitch, making it unsafe.
Q: What were the ticket prices for the event?
A: Ticket prices ranged from around ₹4,500 to nearly ₹20,000, which many fans cited as a major reason for their anger when they could not get a proper view.
Q: Who was blamed for the mismanagement?
A: The organizers were blamed the most for failing to manage the crowd properly and letting too many officials onto the pitch, obstructing ticketed fans. Local politicians and officials also drew criticism for focusing on photo ops.
Q: How did authorities react?
A: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expressed shock at the mismanagement. The event organizer, Satadru Dutta, was reportedly detained by police following the incident.