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Lionel Messi’s tour of India kicked off chaotically when fans threw objects, ripped up seats and invaded the pitch at Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium after the Argentine football great made only a brief appearance at a ticketed event.
Messi was scheduled for a 45-minute visit to the stadium on Saturday, but his appearance lasted just 20 minutes.
Tickets for the event were priced from around 3,500 rupees (A$58.65) — more than half of average weekly income in India — but one fan said he had paid US$130 (A$195).

At Salt Lake Stadium in West Bengal’s capital, a chaotic scene unfolded as frustrated fans tossed torn stadium seats and other debris onto the pitch. Some even scaled the perimeter fence to throw objects, expressing their discontent.

“I can’t believe there was so much mismanagement,” said Eddie Lal Hmangaihzuala, who had travelled nearly 1,500 km from Mizoram over two days to attend the event.

A fan remarked to Reuters, “Messi made a quick exit; he seemed to feel threatened. I barely caught a glimpse of him.”

A man kneels down on a football field as a crowd gathers behind him

The supporters were incensed because, despite paying high ticket prices, they missed the chance to see their beloved football icon. Source: SIPA USA / Hindustan Times/Hindustan Times/Sipa USA

“He has already pledged in writing that tickets sold for the event should be refunded.”

In response to the disorder, police have detained Satadru Dutta, the main organizer of the event, according to officials.

Rajeev Kumar, the director general of West Bengal police, told journalists, “We’re implementing measures to ensure that those responsible for this mismanagement are held accountable.”

Messi is in India as part of a tour during which he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics and a padel tournament, as well as to launch charitable initiatives at events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, apologised to Messi and ordered a probe into the incident.
“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium,” Banerjee, who was on her way to the event when chaos broke out, posted on X.

“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” she said.

A fan takes a selfie with Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi

A fan takes a selfie with Messi at the Salt Lake Stadium. Source: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

She said she was constituting a committee to conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, assign responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.

West Bengal, Kerala and Goa states have long had large soccer followings in otherwise cricket-crazed India.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) said it was not involved in the “organisation, planning, or execution” of the “private event”.

“Furthermore, the details of the event were neither communicated to the AIFF, nor was any clearance sought from the Federation,” a statement said.

Chairs scattered across a football pitch as crowds storm the field

The event’s chief organiser has been detained by police. Source: SIPA USA / DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY/Debajyoti Chakraborty/News Images/Sipa USA

Multiple incidents of fan riots have taken place at Salt Lake stadium, including during a Kolkata derby match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan in 2012 which was abandoned after a brick thrown from the stands hit a player, seriously injuring him.

Argentine football great Diego Maradona twice visited Kolkata, and in 2017 unveiled a statue there of himself holding the World Cup in the presence of thousands of fans.
Messi, who captained Argentina for the first time in a friendly match at the Salt Lake stadium in a 1-0 win over Venezuela in 2011, virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself in Kolkata earlier on Saturday.

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