Kolkata : Historic celebration of football took a chaotic turn during Lionel Messi’s Kolkata appearance, as scenes of unrest unfolded inside the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Salt Lake Stadium. The Argentine superstar’s much-anticipated GOAT Tour stop in the City of Joy was marred by crowd trouble.
Eyewitnesses inside the stadium said the unrest was triggered by poor crowd handling and severe access restrictions. As fans realised that movement and viewing areas were far more limited than expected, frustration began to spill over. Amid the growing disorder, Messi’s time at the venue was cut drastically short. The World Cup winner is believed to have remained inside the stadium for under 10 minutes before being ushered out under tight security alongside other VVIPs.
The footage sharply contrasted with the festive build-up that had marked Messi’s arrival in Kolkata, turning what was meant to be a historic footballing celebration into a moment overshadowed by chaos. A section of fans openly voiced their anger, alleging that Messi’s visit had been dominated by celebrity interactions, leaving regular supporters sidelined.
Earlier in the day, Kolkata had welcomed Messi with immense enthusiasm. The city was the first stop on his three-day India tour, which also includes Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. He arrived shortly after midnight on December 13 to crowds gathered outside the airport, reflecting the anticipation surrounding his return after more than a decade.
The celebrations began at Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, where Messi virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue dedicated to him, alongside West Bengal minister Sujit Bose and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. Messi is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former India captain Sourav Ganguly before departing for Hyderabad.
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