Chaos and anarchy at Salt Lake Stadium as Messi visit cut short after fan unrest

The unrest forced Messi, who returned to the city 14 years after his first visit, to leave the venue earlier than scheduled, cutting short what was meant to be the highlight of his GOAT Tour appearance in Kolkata.

Eyewitnesses said tensions escalated as large sections of the crowd grew restless over visibility and crowd management issues, leading to disorder in parts of the stands. Security personnel rushed in to control the situation as chants gave way to scuffles and projectiles being hurled.

Amid the turmoil, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was expected to formally honour Messi at the stadium, could not arrive, with officials citing the deteriorating situation and security concerns.

The incident marked an abrupt and chaotic end to an otherwise historic day celebrating Messi’s presence in Kolkata, prompting questions over crowd control and event planning at one of India’s largest sporting venues.

Messi waving at crowd before chaos broke out. Photo: Rupak De Chaudhuri 

"We want our money back. It was a selfie event for politicians who have no understanding of football. This is a scam," said an angry fan who paid a bomb to buy a ticket to the stadium.

Earlier Lionel Messi set Kolkata ablaze on Day 1 of his much-anticipated GOAT Tour in India, unveiling a towering 70-foot statue of himself and sharing a high-profile meeting with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

Messi met Shah Rukh Khan and his family in Kolkata in what fans described as the ultimate crossover between football and Bollywood, sending social media into a frenzy. Both icons are set to head to the Salt Lake Stadium for the next leg of the day’s events.

Before descending into chaos, supporters were seen holding placards and banners, with one fan boldly urging the Argentine No. 10 to guide his nation to back-to-back World Cup titles, reflecting the enduring global belief in the World Cup-winning captain.

With queues stretching longer by the minute and the city buzzing with celebration, Messi’s Kolkata stop turned into a once-in-a-generation sporting spectacle, setting the tone for the rest of his India tour. But chaos and anger and mismanagement played spoilsport.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was supposed to honour Messi in the felicitation ceremony at Salt Lake Stadium till things went awry.