Frustration filled the air at Salt Lake stadium ::: Mess in event for football icon Messi in Mamata's 'Maati' .... What business she had to go to the stadium ??

After spending thousands and not even getting a glimpse of Messi, fans broke through the stadium barriers.  

Iconic soccer star Messi is in India as part of a tour during which he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics and a padel tournament, and launch charitable initiatives at events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. 

Argentinian makes 20-minute appearance in Kolkata

Supporters climb fence and hurl objects from stands

Lionel Messi’s tour of India kicked off on a chaotic note on Saturday as fans ripped up seats and threw them towards the pitch after the Argentina and Inter Miami forward’s brief visit to the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, the ANI news agency reported.

Messi is in India as part of a tour during which he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics and a padel tournament, and launch charitable initiatives at events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.

The 2022 World Cup winner walked around the pitch at the stadium waving to the fans, but was closely surrounded by a large group of people and left 20 minutes after his arrival.

It is well known that Kolkata ... that is capital of West Bengal and states such as Kerala and Goa and a few northeastern provinces have long had large football fanbases in an otherwise cricket-dominated India. 

Diego Maradona twice visited Kolkata and in 2017 unveiled a statue of himself holding the World Cup, in the presence of thousands of fans. 

Essentially when the crowd entered the field, police were out numbered. 

Though they attempted to control the crowd, things got out of hand and turned into a battle. 

Lionei Messi, who played in a friendly match at the Salt Lake Stadium in 2011 in which Argentina defeated Venezuela 1-0, virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself in Kolkata on Saturday.  

“I can’t believe there was so much mismanagement,” said Eddie Lal Hmangaihzuala, who had travelled nearly 1,500 km from Mizoram over two days to attend the event. “Messi left quickly, I think he felt unsafe. I hardly got a glimpse of him.” (reported Reuters) 

Pele visited Kolkata in 1977 

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, apologised to Messi and ordered an investigation into the incident. 

“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium,” Mamata, who was on her way to the event when chaos broke out, posted on X. 

A populist chief minister should have gauged public mood in the city and should have probably stayed away from an event where other than showing her face to the crowd and indulge in some gimmicks she had no other business. 

In Delhi during the UPA regime as a protesting crowd gheroed her once in front of erstwhile Yojana Bhavan (Planning Commission), she had said "Sorry, Delhi is not safe".  

The organisers of the tour did not respond to media request for a comment, but Satadru Dutta, the event’s chief organiser, was detained by police, said Rajeev Kumar, DG West Bengal police. 

“We’re taking action so that this mismanagement does not go unpunished,” Kumar told reporters. “He has already pledged in writing that tickets sold for the event should be refunded.”   

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya launched an all-out attack on her and the state government.  

"Stop shedding crocodile tears. This mismanagement and corruption are endemic to everything your government does. The TMC has launched a frontal attack on the emotions of the people of West Bengal and insulted every football lover," he posted on X.  

The All India Football Federation said it is “deeply concerned” and distanced itself from the event. An AIFF statement read: “The All India Football Federation is deeply concerned by the events that transpired at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. This was a private event organised by a PR agency.

ends