KOLKATA, India — Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated ‘GOAT India Tour’ descended into chaos on Saturday as enraged supporters unleashed fury at Salt Lake Stadium after failing to see the global icon. The event, intended to celebrate Messi’s legacy across multiple Indian cities, was marred by significant organizational failures that left ticket-holders disillusioned.
Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of pandemonium as frustrated attendees, many adorned in Messi’s iconic Argentina jersey, resorted to hurling stadium seats and breaching security barricades to storm the field. The unrest erupted primarily because numerous fans reported being unable to view Messi either in person or via the venue’s large screens despite hours of waiting.
The security personnel, visibly overwhelmed by the scale of the outburst, eventually managed to disperse the crowds, though not before attempts were made to vandalize the premises. Notably, Messi had already departed the venue before the disturbances escalated.
In response to the debacle, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a public apology expressing her profound disturbance over the event’s gross mismanagement. Through her social media channels, she extended regrets to both Messi and the disappointed fans who had invested in tickets expecting a memorable experience. Banerjee further announced the formation of a specialized committee tasked with conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. This committee will identify accountability gaps and propose preventive measures for future events.
The tour, which also features Messi’s longtime teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, is scheduled to proceed to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and conclude in New Delhi on Monday. Earlier on Saturday, Messi had remotely unveiled a 21-meter (70-foot) statue erected in his honor in Kolkata, a moment largely overshadowed by the subsequent turmoil.