Kolkata, India – Lionel Messi's highly anticipated "GOAT Tour 2025" stop in Kolkata descended into chaos on Saturday, prompting criticism from a former Indian footballer and widespread disappointment among fans. The Argentine superstar's brief appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium was marred by unruly behavior, with frustrated spectators ripping up seats and throwing objects onto the pitch.
The event, intended to include concerts, youth football clinics, a padel tournament, and charitable initiatives across four Indian cities, quickly turned sour due to what many perceived as poor organization and a lack of visibility of Messi. Reports indicate that Messi only spent about 20 minutes at the stadium, waving to fans while being closely surrounded by a large group of people, obstructing the view for many. Some reports claim Messi was only present for 10 minutes. This infuriated attendees who had paid hefty sums, ranging from ₹4,000 to ₹25,000 (approximately $50 to $300 USD), for a glimpse of the football icon.
"I can't believe there was so much mismanagement," said Eddie Lal Hmangaihzuala, who traveled nearly 1,500 km from Mizoram to attend the event. "Messi left quickly, I think he felt unsafe. I hardly got a glimpse of him".
Video footage showed fans climbing over fences and hurling objects onto the field, with some even vandalizing posters and breaking security protocols. The incident led to a security breach, and Messi was reportedly forced to cut short his stadium lap.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose stated that the chaos was anticipated and that he had conveyed concerns and suggested crowd management measures to the government beforehand. "Today's incident proves that none of those steps were taken by the police," Bose said. "We love Messi, we respect Messi. But the authorities of Calcutta had made Messi a real Messi".
Following the unrest, Satadru Datta, the event's chief organizer, was detained by police for alleged mismanagement. West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar stated that Datta has pledged in writing to refund the ticket prices to the disgruntled spectators. Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee has ordered a high-level enquiry into the incident and apologized to Messi and his fans. "I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium," Banerjee posted on X. "I sincerely apologize to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident". She further added that an enquiry committee would be formed to investigate the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has also addressed the situation, clarifying that no clearance was sought from the federation for the event. The AIFF further noted that bottles, which are banned at sporting venues, were brought into the stadium, and chairs were broken and thrown around, with damage also inflicted on the Chief Minister's enclosure.
The incident has cast a shadow over the "GOAT Tour 2025," raising questions about the planning and execution of such large-scale events in India. While refunds have been promised, the disappointment among fans remains palpable, and the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper management and security measures at high-profile events.
