KOLKATA, Dec 13: Kolkata knows how to worship footballing gods. On Saturday afternoon, that devotion turned into disillusionment as Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance ended not in applause, but in anger and chaos at the Salt Lake Stadium.
What was billed as a marquee sporting spectacle unravelled into disorder as thousands of spectators protested after being unable to get a clear glimpse of Messi, triggering vandalism inside the stadium and sharp political and administrative reactions later in the day.
Accompanied by long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and Argentine teammate Rodrigo De Paul, Messi, the World Cup-winning captain, arrived at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan around 11.30 am.
His vehicle was parked near the touchline and, as he stepped onto the field, he was quickly encircled by VIPs, organisers, celebrities and security personnel, leaving spectators in the galleries straining for a view.
Messi walked a short distance on the pitch and waved briefly towards the stands amid chants of “Messi, Messi”.
Fans, however, soon realised that he remained tightly cordoned off and barely visible from large sections of the stadium.
Several spectators complained that even the giant screens failed to provide a clear view.
Frustration mounted when it became evident that Messi would not complete the full lap of the stadium that was part of the original programme. Bottles were thrown, and security officials hurried him off the pitch within minutes.
Protesters raised slogans demanding the arrest of state Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and the event’s chief organiser Satadru Datta, accusing them of gross mismanagement.
Eyewitnesses said the situation worsened after organisers, including Datta and his team, were no longer visible on the ground soon after Messi’s exit.
Repeated announcements over the public address system asking unauthorised persons to vacate the field went largely unheeded as hundreds of spectators spilt onto the pitch, pulled down temporary tents and damaged equipment near the touchline.
Police personnel struggled to contain the surging crowd on the pitch, prompting the deployment of the Rapid Action Force inside the stadium. Some protesters were baton-charged to restore order, police sources said.
“This was complete mismanagement,” said Ajay Shah, a football enthusiast who had come with his son. “People have spent a month’s salary to see Messi. I paid Rs 5,000 for a ticket. We came to watch Messi, not politicians.” Ticket prices for the event ranged between Rs 4,500 and Rs 10,000, with many fans arriving early in the morning in the hope of seeing the football legend up close.
The chaos forced an abrupt curtailment of the programme, with several invited dignitaries, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, unable to participate as planned.
Police sources said the situation did not fully spiral out of control, only because Messi was taken out of the stadium earlier than scheduled and additional security forces were rushed in.
The backlash spilled onto social media, where fans slammed organisers for what they described as “shambolic planning” and “complete mismanagement.”
“We paid thousands just to watch politicians take selfies while Messi disappeared in minutes,” one fan wrote on X. “This is not crowd trouble—this is organiser failure,” posted another.
Several fans pointed out that this was not the first time such an event had descended into chaos.
“Every big sporting event follows the same script. When will we finally learn?” read one widely shared post. (Agencies)
