Lionel Messi’s tour of India began chaotically as fans ripped up seats, threw objects, invaded the pitch and broke the stage after the footballer’s brief appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday.
Footage from India’s ANI news agency showed hundreds of fans invading the pitch, vandalising the stands and dismantling goal nets at the 85,000-capacity stadium.
Thousands of fans had paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) for access to the event, but ANI details that the 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami forward spent just 20 minutes in the stadium, where he was closely surrounded by a large group of people including club team-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.
Messi was closely surrounded during his 20-minute appearance on the pitch (Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP via Getty Images)
A subsequent report from ANI said that police used ‘mild force’ to disperse crowds that had gathered outside the Hyatt Regency Kolkata hotel, where Messi was staying during his brief visit to the city.
Messi was starting his three-day GOAT (greatest of all time) Tour 2025 of the nation, which includes visits to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, with the footballer scheduled to combine public appearances with cultural events.
Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan were among the prominent names who had been listed to appear alongside Messi at the Kolkata appearance.
Chaos engulfed the stands with large parts of the stadium vandalised (Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP via Getty Images)
The chief minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Banerjee, apologised to Messi on social media and said she had ordered a probe into the incident. “I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium.
“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident. I am constituting an enquiry committee … the committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.”
West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas told local media: “The government has ordered an investigation this matter. An investigation is going on, and I will not comment on anything.”
Thousands of seats were ripped up and thrown at security personnel (Dibyangshu SARKAR / AFP via Getty Images)
Messi’s appearance followed an exhibition match at the stadium between West Bengal clubs Mohun Bagan AC and Diamond Harbour FC, with players from both sides meeting the former Barcelona star afterwards to have shirts signed and selfie photos taken.
The Salt Lake Stadium hosted Messi’s most recent appearance in India, when he played during Argentina’s 1-0 win over Venezuela in 2011.
Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal and has a significant football fanbase in a nation where cricket is the most popular sport.
A fan hitting the stadium’s sound system with a pole (Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)
Earlier on Saturday, Messi appeared virtually to unveil a 70-foot statue depicting him holding the 2022 World Cup trophy that was built in his honour in Lake Town, Kolkata. The monument had been built over the course of four weeks by a 45-strong crew.
Messi and his entourage continued their Indian tour on Saturday by travelling to Hyderabad after their Kolkata visit.
Sudheer Babu, Hyderabad police commissioner, told Indian media outlet NDTV that the city’s organisation was “far ahead” of that of Kolkata as he downplayed any safety concerns.
“The preparation levels are different here. 4000 officers are here,” Babu said on Saturday. “We are having continuous conversation with the organisers. We are far ahead of happenings in Kolkata. The crowd has been friendly and cooperative.”
Messi’s Indian tour will continue on Sunday with a trip to Mumbai before concluding in New Delhi on Monday.
