Messi’s India Visit Begins Amid Disorder in Kolkata After Brief Stadium Appearance
Messi’s India Visit Begins Amid Disorder in Kolkata After Brief Stadium Appearance
Kolkata, December 13, 2025: Football icon Lionel Messi’s India tour got off to a turbulent start on Saturday after disorder broke out at Salt Lake Stadium, where disappointed fans reacted angrily following his short appearance.
Messi, the Argentine World Cup–winning forward and current Inter Miami star, arrived at the stadium as part of a multi-city India visit that includes cultural events, youth football clinics, a padel tournament and charitable initiatives in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
According to eyewitness accounts and video footage, Messi entered the stadium, greeted spectators and walked briefly around the pitch while waving to the crowd. However, he remained surrounded by officials and security personnel and departed roughly 20 minutes after his arrival, triggering frustration among fans who had gathered in large numbers.
As tensions escalated, sections of the crowd damaged stadium seating and hurled broken chairs and other objects onto the field and running track. Some supporters were seen climbing over perimeter fencing to throw items, forcing authorities to intervene.
Several fans expressed anger over what they described as poor crowd management and unmet expectations. “We paid a high price for tickets but barely got a glimpse of him,” one supporter said, questioning the arrangements made for the event.
Reacting to the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a public apology to Messi and football fans, calling the situation deeply distressing. She also announced the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the lapses in planning and security.
“The mismanagement at Salt Lake Stadium is unacceptable,” Banerjee said in a statement, adding that responsibility would be fixed and corrective measures recommended to prevent similar incidents in the future.
India’s eastern and southern states, including West Bengal, Kerala and Goa, have a long-standing passion for football despite cricket’s dominance nationwide. Kolkata, in particular, has hosted legendary footballers in the past, including Diego Maradona, who visited the city on multiple occasions.
Messi shares a special connection with the venue, having played a friendly match there in 2011, when Argentina defeated Venezuela 1–0. On Saturday, he also virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself in the city, marking his enduring popularity among Indian football fans.
