Messi’s event in Kolkata turned into a ‘mess’ as fans couldn’t even see his face

Chaos erupted at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s event as frustrated fans threw objects due to obstructed views.

Lionel Messi landed in Kolkata, India, and since then, fans haven’t been able to keep calm. On Saturday, during an event linked to Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi, chaos broke out at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium after frustrated fans began throwing bottles and chairs from the stands.

The crowd went berserk after fans didn’t get a clear view of Messi.

According to fans, tempers flared when large sections of the crowd realised they would not get a clear view of Messi, despite having purchased high-priced tickets. Angry spectators were seen hurling objects from the gallery, prompting security personnel to intervene. Messi was then forced to leave the stadiumearly amid the disruption, according to news agency ANI.

Fans feel disappointed after not being able to see Lionel Messi.

A disappointed fan, who claimed to have paid ₹12,000 for a ticket, voiced his anger, saying, “Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi…Why did they call us then… We have got a ticket for 12 thousand, but we were not even able to see his face…” Another fan stated, “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. They said they would bring Shah Rukh Khan too. They didn’t bring anyone. He came for 10 minutes and left. So much money, emotions, and time wasted. We couldn’t see anything…”

Lionel Messi arrived in Kolkata early Saturday morning to a massive, emotional welcome from fans. The Argentine icon’s visit generated humungous excitement across the city with crowds gathering at multiple locations in hopes of catching a glimpse of the football legend. West Bengal, known for its deep-rooted football culture, turned out in large numbers. However, expectations quickly turned to frustration inside the stadium as several fans complained about poor crowd management, limited visibility, and a lack of clarity about how close the audience would be allowed to get to the star player.