The first date of Messi’s tour of India ended in chaos as disappointed fans raged against the perceived poor organisation of the event.
Seats were ripped up and thrown onto the Salt Lake Stadium pitch, with those in attendance incensed at the limited opportunity they were given to see their idol.
Video footage from news agency ANI showed fans who had climbed over a fence to hurl objects onto the field.
The prime organiser of the event Satadru Dutta has been detained due to mismanagement following the stadium chaos, and chief minister of West Bengal state Mamata Banerjee has ordered a high-level enquiry.
Messi is in India as part of his ‘GOAT Tour 2025’, a four-part event where he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics, a padel tournament and launch charitable initiatives across dates in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
According to reports in India and across social media, the 2022 World Cup winner walked around the stadium waving to the fans present, but was closely followed by a large group of people who obstructed the view of many fans to the Argentina and Inter Miami icon. Among those present alongside Messi were team-mates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez.
Reports by Khel Now on X added that Messi was forced to ‘cut short’ the stadium lap as fans booed officials and politicians, and the subsequent events resulted in a security breach. West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar said in a statement to the media that fans are expected to be refunded.
“The Chief Minister has taken cognisance of the incident,” he said. “It was sheer mismanagement by the organising committee. The organisers are expected to refund the fans. Meanwhile, I request fans to exercise restraint. We have already detained the organiser.”
