KOLKATA: Scenes of unrest were reported at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday after hundreds of fans expressed anger over Argentine football star Lionel Messi’s brief appearance at a ticketed event.
Videos circulated on social media showed bottles and plastic chairs being thrown from the stands, with some spectators breaking barricades and hurling water bottles.
The footage, shared by news agency ANI, appeared to capture frustrated fans venting their anger inside the stadium.
Messi, who was in the city as part of the G.O.A.T. Tour, arrived at the venue at around 11.15 am but left shortly afterwards, according to organisers.
He is now at the city’s airport, ready to depart for Hyderabad.
Several fans said they were disappointed after paying between Rs 5,000 and Rs 25,000 for tickets, claiming they were unable to get a clear view of the footballer.
“Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi. Why did they call us then? We paid Rs 12,000 for the ticket but couldn’t even see his face," said a fan.
“The minimum price of the ticket was 5 thousand, and why were the VVIPs around Messi? We couldn't even see him... Why weren't the police taking action? I don't know anything. Everyone was furious... We want the refund,” one frustrated fan said.
Another supporter described the event as an “absolute disgrace”, alleging that Messi did not take a full lap of the stadium, a moment many fans had been expecting.
A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi said, "Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn't see anything. He didn't take a single kick or a single penalty. He came for 10 minutes and left. So much money, emotions, and time wasted. We couldn't see anything."
Police were deployed in and around the stadium to restore order. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and authorities have not confirmed whether any damage to property was recorded.
Event organisers have not yet issued a detailed response to the complaints, while fans continued to voice their disappointment online over what they described as poor crowd management and unmet expectations.
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