Frustrated Messi fans throw chairs and bottles at India stadium event

The initial event of Lionel Messi’s Indian tour turned chaotic as fans tore up stadium seats and launched objects following his brief appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.

Countless devoted fans had spent up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) for a chance to see the football icon, but were left disheartened when he arrived to walk around the field, as he was covered by a large entourage of officials and celebrities.

When the Argentina and Inter Miami striker was quickly escorted away by security after about 20 minutes, parts of the audience became aggressive.

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, expressed that she was «deeply disturbed and shocked» by the occurrences.

Messi is in India for his ‘GOAT tour’, a series of promotional activities across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

The tour kicked off with the unveiling of a 70ft statue of Messi in Kolkata, constructed over 27 days by a team of 45.

Due to security constraints, the unveiling was virtual, prompting thousands of fans to visit the local stadium for a chance to see the footballer in person.

They were chanting, purchasing jerseys, and donning «I love Messi» headgear.

Initially, Messi waved to fans while strolling around the stadium, but once his appearance ended unexpectedly on Saturday, agitated fans rushed the pitch and destroyed banners and tents, while others threw plastic chairs and water bottles.

The 2022 World Cup champion – regarded as one of the greatest players in football history – was anticipated to participate in a brief exhibition match at the stadium, according to the AFP news agency.

«Only leaders and actors were around Messi… Why were we called then… We bought a ticket for 12 thousand rupees, but we couldn’t even see his face,» a fan at the stadium stated to Indian news agency ANI.

An upset fan expressed to the Press Trust of India news agency that individuals had paid a month’s salary to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient.

«I spent Rs 5,000 on the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians.

«The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the organizers should be held responsible.»

Kolkata serves as the capital of West Bengal and boasts a substantial football following in a nation otherwise obsessed with cricket.

In this city, it’s not unusual to witness hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic fans gathering at stadiums for local club derbies.

In response to the incident, Banerjee announced an inquiry and apologized to Messi and «sports enthusiasts» for what happened at the stadium.

«The [inquiry] committee will carry out a thorough investigation into the event, assign accountability, and suggest steps to avert similar incidents in the future,» she stated on X.

In the early hours of Saturday, crowds lined the streets and gathered outside the hotel where Messi was residing in hopes of catching a glimpse of him.

Hitesh, a 24-year-old corporate lawyer, traveled nearly 1,900 kilometers from Bengaluru.

«This is personal for me. You can see I am quite short, and I love playing football with my friends,» Hitesh told the BBC, standing before the statue.

«Messi is the player I connect with the most; no one can rival his talent. He inspires me to believe that with ability, you can accomplish anything.»

This is just a small part of India’s tribute to the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain star.

Fans have the opportunity to visit the ‘Hola Messi’ fan zone, which features a life-sized replica of Messi seated on a throne, a hall embellished with some of his trophies, and a reproduction of his Miami residence adorned with mannequins of the player and his family on a balcony.