Fans left angry and heartbroken after a brief, obscured appearance by the football star sparks a pitch invasion.
A highly anticipated visit from football icon Lionel Messi to India has been marred by chaos and anger, leading to the arrest of the tour’s organiser. The incident occurred at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, where a ticketed event promising an appearance by the Argentine superstar left hundreds of fans feeling cheated.
Messi, currently in India on a three-day promotional “GOAT” tour, attended the event alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul. However, fans who had paid between 3,500 rupees ($38.65) and upwards—a significant sum in India—were met with major disappointment.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was on the field for only about 20 minutes. For most of that time, his view was blocked by a large group of officials and VIPs. After briefly waving to the crowd, he was quickly escorted away by security.
“Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes,” one frustrated fan told reporters. “All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn’t see anything… So much money, emotions, and time wasted.”
The sense of betrayal quickly turned to unrest. Hundreds of fans stormed the pitch, ripping up seats and vandalizing the stadium as police struggled to control the crowd. Local authorities have launched a full investigation into the event’s management.
Other attendees echoed the feeling of being scammed. “We all wanted to see Messi, but it was a total scam,” said another fan. “Kolkata is known for football… this experience is absolutely a scam. We are very hurt.”
The debacle has cast a shadow over the remainder of Messi’s tour, which includes stops in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi for concerts, youth clinics, and charity events. For the fans in Kolkata, however, what was meant to be a historic football celebration has become a day of bitter disappointment.
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