Kolkata stop of Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025 cut short
Angry fans break barricades, clash with police after not getting clear sight of Messi
Shah Rukh Khan, Sourav Ganguly and Mamata Banerjee unable to participate amid chaos
Messi Tribute Turns Messy: GOAT India Tour 2025 Kicks Off With Chaotic Kolkata Leg - VIDEO
Angry fans took matters into their own hands as apparent mismanagement denied them the kind of interaction with Lionel Messi, the Argentine football superstar, they were hoping for
Summary
The Kolkata stop of Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025 began with tremendous fanfare and expectancy, but ended on a sour note at the Salt Lake Stadium as raucous fans broke barricades and invaded the pitch on Saturday (December 13).
After filling the air with boos, the angry fans clashed with the police and tore down goalposts. Some of them even beat Messi posters with sticks as the much-awaited event was forced into a premature conclusion.
Chaotic scenes ensue at the Salt Lake Stadium. Sushruta Bhattacharjee/Outlook
A sea of angry fans enter the pitch. Sushruta Bhattacharjee/Outlook
Fans protesting in the middle of the pitch with police and RAF personnel surrounding them. Sushruta Bhattacharjee/Outlook
People lying down in the middle of the pitch in protest. Sushruta Bhattacharjee/Outlook
Fans clashing with the police. Sushruta Bhattacharjee/Outlook
Argentine football superstar Messi reached the stadium at around 11.30am, with long-time ally Luis Suarez and national teammate Rodrigo De Paul. He did a lap of the ground and waved at the crowd as well.
But the legend was surrounded by VIPs, organisers and security personnel throughout his lap, thus cutting off the spectators’ view from the galleries. Fans claimed that they could not get a clear sight of Messi, even on the stadium’s giant screens, having waited since early morning.
Chants of “We want Messi” began reverberating in the stadium, but the 38-year-old was escorted out of the stadium within minutes.
It did not take long for the situation to escalate beyond control. Neither Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, nor former India skipper Sourav Ganguly or West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee could participate in the programme as the event was cut short amid the chaos.
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