Lionel Messi’s Kolkata visit ended in chaos as crowd surge forced his early exit from Salt Lake Stadium. Angry fans, damaged property, and social media backlash exposed major lapses in planning, security, and event management during the highly anticipated GOAT Tour appearance.
Kolkata has long prided itself on being India’s spiritual home of football, a city where legends are revered with near-religious devotion. That reputation, however, came under sharp scrutiny on Saturday afternoon when Lionel Messi’s much-hyped visit to the city descended into disorder, disappointment and public outrage at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, popularly known as Salt Lake Stadium.
What was meant to be a historic celebration of the world’s greatest footballer instead turned into a case study in poor planning and crowd mismanagement. Messi, visiting India as part of his globally promoted GOAT Tour, was forced to abandon his scheduled lap of honour just minutes after stepping onto the pitch. An uncontrollable surge of spectators, combined with visible lapses in security coordination, prompted officials to rush the Argentine icon off the field amid scenes of chaos.
For thousands inside the stadium, the moment they had waited for hours — and in many cases paid premium prices for — never truly arrived. Large sections of the crowd complained that they neither saw Messi up close nor caught a clear glimpse of him on the giant screens. The presence of an extensive security cordon, along with politicians and dignitaries occupying the best viewing areas, further obstructed sightlines for ordinary ticket holders.
As frustration mounted, the atmosphere inside the stadium deteriorated rapidly. Bottles were hurled toward the pitch, banners were torn down, and plastic seats were damaged or thrown to the ground. Security personnel struggled to regain control as tempers flared, exposing serious vulnerabilities in crowd management at one of India’s largest sporting venues.
Outside the stadium, angry supporters voiced their disappointment to the media. Many alleged that Messi had remained on the field for barely a few minutes before being escorted away, calling the event a “complete betrayal” of fan expectations.
“We waited for hours under tight security and heat, only to see him disappear almost instantly,” said one spectator who had travelled from another district to attend the event.
The backlash quickly spilled onto social media platforms, particularly X, where fans unleashed a wave of criticism against the organisers. Posts accusing them of “shambolic planning” and “elite privilege at the cost of fans” began trending locally within hours.
“We paid thousands just to watch politicians take selfies while Messi vanished in minutes,” one user wrote.
Another post read, “This is not crowd trouble — this is organiser failure.”
Several fans pointed out that this was hardly an isolated incident. According to them, major sporting and celebrity events in India often follow a familiar pattern: massive hype, inadequate planning, and eventual chaos.
“Every big event ends the same way. The passion of fans is exploited, but lessons are never learned,” read a widely shared comment.
Ironically, the day had begun on a far more celebratory note. Earlier, Messi had virtually unveiled a towering 70-foot iron statue at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town. The statue, depicting him holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, was completed in just 40 days and drew widespread admiration from football lovers across Kolkata. Images and videos of the statue circulated widely online, earning praise for its scale and craftsmanship.
Yet the turmoil at Salt Lake Stadium overshadowed that moment of pride. What could have been a landmark occasion for Indian football instead highlighted the widening gap between fan passion and administrative professionalism. Kolkata’s love for football remains unquestioned, but Saturday’s events raised uncomfortable questions about whether the city — and its organisers — are prepared to safely host events involving global icons of Messi’s stature.
| Also Read: AIFF distances itself from Messi Kolkata Event Chaos |
As the dust settles, fans are demanding accountability, transparency, and better planning for future high-profile events. For many, the disappointment goes beyond missing a glimpse of a football legend. It reflects a deeper frustration with repeated failures that turn moments of collective joy into memories of chaos.
Lionel Messi may have left the field quickly, but the controversy surrounding his Kolkata visit is likely to linger far longer.
