Chaos erupted during Lionel Messi’s India tour as fans rioted at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, leading to the detention of the event organizer and a public apology from the West Bengal Chief Minister.
Global football icon Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated tour of India began on a chaotic note on Saturday, as unrest broke out at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Following Messi’s brief appearance at a ticketed event, frustrated fans engaged in violent behavior, ripping up seats, throwing objects onto the pitch, and breaching security protocols.
Authorities confirmed that Satadru Dutta, the chief organizer of the event, has been detained in connection with the disturbances. Rajeev Kumar, Director General of West Bengal Police, stated, “We’ve already detained the main organizer. We’re taking action so that this mismanagement does not go unpunished.”
Messi was scheduled to appear at the stadium for 45 minutes but reportedly left after just 20 minutes, which incited frustration among fans who had paid high ticket prices. Tickets ranged from ₹3,500 (approximately $38.65) to significantly higher amounts on resale platforms, with at least one fan claiming to have paid $130—a considerable sum in a country where the average weekly income is much lower.
As news spread that Messi’s appearance was ending earlier than expected, sections of the crowd became unruly. Fans were seen tearing seats from the stands and throwing them onto the field, while others attempted to climb over fencing to access the pitch.
Eddie Lal Hmangaihzuala, who traveled nearly 1,500 kilometers from Mizoram to attend the event, expressed his disappointment, saying, “I can’t believe there was so much mismanagement. Messi left quickly. I think he felt unsafe. I hardly got a glimpse of him.”
Security personnel struggled to manage the situation, prompting Messi and his entourage to exit the venue sooner than planned. Organizers of the tour did not respond immediately to media inquiries regarding the failures in crowd control and scheduling.
In the aftermath of the chaos, police officials announced that the detained organizer had provided a written assurance that all tickets sold for the event would be refunded. “He has already pledged in writing that tickets sold for the event should be refunded,” Kumar confirmed.
In response to the incident, authorities have increased security measures at subsequent venues on Messi’s tour, amid concerns that similar crowd management issues could arise again.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a public apology to Messi and the fans, ordering a formal investigation into the incident. Banerjee was en route to the stadium when the unrest occurred. “I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium,” she wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “I sincerely apologize to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident.”
She announced the formation of a committee tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry, determining accountability, and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Messi’s visit to India is part of a multi-city tour that includes concert appearances, youth football clinics, a padel tournament, and the launch of several charitable initiatives. Scheduled stops include Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
Earlier on Saturday, Messi had virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself in Kolkata, an event that garnered significant online engagement and underscored his immense popularity in the country.
While India is predominantly known for its cricket culture, regions such as West Bengal, Kerala, and Goa have a rich football heritage, with generations of fans closely following international football.
Salt Lake Stadium has a history of crowd-related incidents. In 2012, a Kolkata derby match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan was abandoned after a brick thrown from the stands struck and seriously injured a player. Football legends have long drawn massive crowds in Kolkata; Diego Maradona visited the city twice, and in 2017, he unveiled a statue of himself holding the World Cup before thousands of fans. Messi, too, has a special connection with the venue, having captained Argentina there in 2011 during a friendly match against Venezuela.
Experts in sports management suggest that the incident highlights the risks associated with hosting high-profile global stars without adequate crowd planning. “When expectations are sky-high and transparency is lacking, frustration can escalate quickly,” noted a sports events consultant familiar with large-scale international tours in India.
As investigations continue, the Kolkata incident is likely to serve as a cautionary tale for future organizers of international sporting events in India, where fan passion, if not properly managed, can lead to disorder, according to Global Net News.