The India tour of Lionel Messi became violent as furious fans tore up seats and hurled objects onto the pitch following his appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
Thousands of enthusiastic fans had spent as much as 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to see the football star but were let down when he came out to stroll on the field, blocked from view by a big crowd of officials and celebrities.
When the forward from Argentina and Inter Miami was quickly escorted away by security after about 20 minutes, parts of the audience became aggressive.
Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, expressed that she was “greatly unsettled and stunned” by the occurrences.
Messi is in India for his ‘GOAT tour,’ a collection of promotional activities in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
His tour commenced with the reveal of a 70 ft statue of himself in Kolkata, constructed over 27 days by a team of 45 workers.
It was revealed online for security reasons, leading thousands of fans to head to the city’s stadium for a chance to glimpse the footballer.
They were singing, purchasing jerseys, and donning “I love Messi” headbands.
Messi first strolled around the stadium greeting fans, but when his visit suddenly concluded on Saturday, angry fans rushed onto the field and damaged banners and tents, while some threw plastic chairs and bottles of water.
The winner of the 2022 World Cup—regarded as one of the all-time greatest football players—was anticipated to participate in a brief exhibition match at the stadium, reports the AFP news agency.
“Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi… Why did they call us then… We have got a ticket for 12 thousand rupees, but we were not even able to see his face,” a fan at the stadium told Indian news agency ANI.
One angry fan told the press people had paid the equivalent of a month’s salary to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“I paid Rs 5,000 for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians.
“The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame.”
Kolkata serves as the capital of West Bengal, an Indian state, and boasts a substantial football following in a nation predominantly obsessed with cricket.
In the city, it’s typical to witness hundreds of thousands of supporters assemble at stadiums during a derby between local teams.
Banerjee announced an investigation, expressing regret to Messi and “sports enthusiasts” for the event at the stadium.
“The [enquiry] committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future,” she said on X.
In the early morning of Saturday, thousands gathered along the streets and assembled outside the hotel where Messi was lodged, attempting to see him.
Hitesh, a 24-year-old attorney in a corporate firm, traveled close to 1,900 kilometers from Bengaluru, a city in southern India.
“For me it’s personal. You can see I am quite short, and I love to play football with my friends,” Hitesh told the BBC, standing in front of the statue.
“Messi is the player I related to the most; no one can match his talent. He gives me hope that with talent you can do anything.”
It is merely a modest tribute from India to the ex-Barcelona and Paris St-Germain striker.
Supporters can explore the ‘Hola Messi’ fan zone featuring a life-sized statue of Messi seated on a throne, a room decorated with several of his awards, and a replica of his Miami residence, including mannequins of the player and his family relaxing on a balcony.
