What was billed as India’s most awaited football celebration descended into unprecedented chaos on Saturday, as thousands of furious fans vandalised Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium after Lionel Messi made a brief appearance and exited early from the GOAT India Tour event.
Angry spectators — many of whom paid between Rs 4,500 and Rs 10,000 for tickets —stormed the ground, hurled bottles, shattered seats, burned plastic chairs and vandalised event structures, accusing organisers of “cheating” them with poor visibility and false promises.
By afternoon, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) had to be deployed as the iconic stadium, famous for hosting legendary moments in Indian football, turned into a scene of smoke, broken seats, and bitter disappointment.
A Morning of Anticipation Turns to Outrage
Messi’s arrival at 2:26 a.m. in Kolkata created a festival-like atmosphere. Fans queued outside the stadium for hours, expecting a football demonstration, an exhibition match, or at least a proper interaction.
Instead, Messi’s appearance lasted only a few minutes. When he reached Salt Lake Stadium around 11:30 a.m., he was surrounded by politicians, former players, and VIPs — blocking the view for thousands seated far away.
He waved briefly at the crowd, attended a short “Meet & Greet,” and that was it.
Two major highlights —
• a Master Class for children, and
• an exhibition match featuring Indian football veterans
were abruptly cancelled.
That’s when tensions began to rise.
Security Panic Leads to Messi’s Early Exit
A planned “lap of honour” around the ground further fueled unrest as fans surged forward for a closer look.
Sensing danger, security officials rushed Messi out of the venue.
The moment he exited, the atmosphere exploded.
Salt Lake Stadium Turns Into Riot Zone
The crowd — already frustrated — erupted in anger:
●Fans jumped over barricades
●Thousands stormed the pitch
●Seats were ripped out and shattered
●Fibreglass chairs and plastic fixtures were set ablaze
●Bottles and banners were thrown across the field
●Temporary tents and installations were smashed
Videos circulating online show smoke rising from burning chairs as police struggle to control the mob.
Many fans had travelled overnight from neighbouring states, only to find themselves restricted to distant stands with almost no visibility.
RAF Steps In; Stadium Damaged, Events Cancelled
The Rapid Action Force and Kolkata Police battled for hours to clear the grounds. Several fans fainted amid the chaos, though no major injuries were reported.
The destruction forced organisers to cancel:
●A felicitation ceremony for Bengal’s Santosh Trophy-winning team
●A football training workshop for children
The state’s biggest sporting stage was left littered with debris — a heartbreaking contrast to the excitement of the morning.
Governor Demands Answers, Fans Feel ‘Cheated’
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has sought a detailed report from the state government, calling the incident “a serious lapse in public safety and event management.”
He questioned why private organisers were allowed to “monetise sentiment without ensuring basic crowd control.”
Fans flooded social media with outrage, calling the event:
◆“Fan Shame Day”
◆“An emotional scam”
◆“The worst-managed event in Kolkata’s football history”
Many expressed regret that a city known for its deep football culture and love for Messi had witnessed such an embarrassing breakdown.
A Day That Should Have Celebrated Messi — and Kolkata — Ends in Chaos
Messi’s visit could have been a historic moment for Indian football lovers. Instead, it highlighted a painful truth: mismanagement, overselling, and poor planning turned a dream event into a disaster.
Kolkata’s football-loving fans waited for hours, paid premium prices, and expected magic. What they got was minutes of visibility, confusion, and a stadium engulfed in anger.
Authorities are now reviewing security lapses, but the damage — both emotional and physical — has already been done.
