At Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, angry supporters turned to hurling bottles and trying to smash gates between stands as mayhem broke out during football legend Lionel Messi's GOAT Tour.
During the world's most popular football player's blink-and-miss 22-minute visit at Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday morning, the irate supporters disobeyed security procedures since they were unable to see him at all.
Fans said they were unable to see a single kick or penalty shot from Lionel Messi because he was surrounded by gurads and VIPs.
Thousands of supporters gathered early on Saturday morning to see Messi when he arrived in Kolkata to begin the GOAT India Tour 2025.
After Messi landed in Kolkata this morning, there were chants and celebrations. Fans in the city are ecstatic about Messi's comeback to India after a 14-year absence.
"There is a great atmosphere of joy that Messi is coming to India after 14 years," tour organizer Satadru Dutta told ANI prior to Messi's appearance at Salt Lake Stadium.
The relationship between football and India is strengthening once more. Never before have so many sponsors come to Indian football."
Things took a different turn when fans gathered in huge crowd to witness glimpses of the international football icon in-person, but failed to do so.
The overwhelmed fans started throwing bottles and vandalising posters at the venue. This led to Messi's stay in the stadium being cut short as fans booed officials and politicians, highlighting major security issues amid the hysteria.
Despite waiting since the morning and some since last night, the irate supporters claimed they were unable to get a clear look of Messi, either in person or on the stadium's enormous displays. The cost of the tickets, which ranged from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000, was high for the supporters.
Chants of "We want Messi" echoed through the stadium stands as annoyance increased. When the Argentina star was led out of the stadium in a matter of minutes, long before a number of invited guests had shown up, tensions increased even more.
Even though Messi's removal ahead of time and the deployment of extra security prevented the situation from getting out of hand, the disturbance clouded what was supposed to be a high-profile celebration honoring one of football's greatest global superstars.
