The chaos at Kolkata stadium overshadowed the opening leg of Messi’s G.O.A.T. Tour of India, raising serious questions over event planning and crowd control.
BY PC Bureau
December 13, 2025: What was billed as a historic celebration of football in India unraveled into chaos on Saturday as Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance in Kolkata ended abruptly, leaving thousands of fans angry, disappointed, and demanding accountability.
The Kolkata leg of the G.O.A.T. Tour of India 2025—expected to be a two-hour spectacle featuring the Argentine icon alongside Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, cricket legend Sourav Ganguly, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee—was cut short within minutes due to crowd unrest triggered by poor planning and visibility issues.
Hype Builds Overnight
Messi arrived in Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday, landing at around 2:30 am along with Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul. Enthusiasm for the visit was palpable, with hundreds of fans lining the streets well past midnight in hopes of catching a glimpse of the World Cup-winning footballer.
At around 10 am, Messi remotely unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself at Lake Town from his hotel. He later met Shah Rukh Khan and Mohun Bagan Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka at the Hyatt Regency, where photographs from the meeting quickly went viral.
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Stadium Event Derails Within Minutes
Messi reached the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) at approximately 11:15 am, where tens of thousands of spectators were already in place. Ticket prices for the event ranged between ₹5,000 and ₹25,000, adding to expectations of a close, memorable experience.
The plan was for Messi to take a full lap around the stadium, interact with dignitaries, and acknowledge fans. Instead, the moment quickly descended into disorder.
Messi remained tightly encircled by security personnel, politicians, and event guests, making him nearly invisible to spectators seated in the stands. According to on-ground reports, many fans struggled to spot him even briefly. Within minutes, frustration spread through the crowd.
Total embarrassment on an international stage. A global legend like Messi will see a massive public turnout and yet zero planning & very little security ! CM Mamata Banerjee can’t even organise or manage an event!
TMC leaders surrounded him and fans were denied ! Messi had to… pic.twitter.com/HRi9SQhjoR
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) December 13, 2025
Anger Boils Over
As boos rang out, sections of the audience began throwing bottles, chairs, and other objects toward the ground. Security cordons were breached, and parts of the stadium infrastructure—including canopies and hoardings—were vandalised.
Amid escalating unrest, organisers cut short Messi’s appearance. His planned stadium lap was abandoned midway, and he was swiftly escorted out of the venue. NDTV confirmed that Messi spent no more than 20 minutes inside the stadium.
The disorder meant that no formal interaction took place between Messi and Shah Rukh Khan, Sourav Ganguly, or Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, all of whom were expected to be part of the programme.
Fans Cry Foul
For many attendees, the event became a symbol of broken promises and mismanagement.
Several fans described the experience as humiliating, saying they paid premium prices only to return home without seeing the football legend they came for. One attendee called the event “an absolute disgrace,” while others blamed organisers for failing to anticipate crowd dynamics at a high-profile international event.
Chief Minister Apologises, Orders Probe
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later issued a public apology, expressing shock over the developments.
“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium,” Banerjee said in a statement. “I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident.”
The Chief Minister announced the formation of an inquiry committee headed by retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Hill Affairs) as members. The panel has been tasked with identifying lapses, fixing responsibility, and recommending measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Such a huge disgrace in the heart of Kolkata will remain etched in the pages of history forever!
Purely for political reasons, an internationally renowned player like Lionel Messi was brought to Kolkata after the installation of a bizarre 70-foot statue of him. People were then… pic.twitter.com/pVHOYDtGns
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 13, 2025
A Tour Begins on an Embarrassing Note
Messi is scheduled to travel to Hyderabad later on Saturday for the next leg of his India tour, including an exhibition event with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. However, the Kolkata episode has already cast a shadow over the tour’s opening chapter.
What was meant to be a landmark moment for Indian football fandom has instead raised serious questions about event management, crowd control, and the handling of global sporting icons—leaving behind a sense of disappointment where celebration was promised.
