Lionel Messi’s India tour starts in chaos as angry fans throw seats in stadium | Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi’s tour of India got off to a chaotic start on Saturday, with fans ripping out seats and throwing them towards the pitch after the Argentina and Inter Miami forward’s brief visit to the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, news agency ANI reported.
Messi is in India as part of the tour, during which he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics and a padel tournament, and undertake charitable initiatives at events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
According to reports in Indian media, the 2022 World Cup winner walked around the field waving to fans at the stadium, but was closely surrounded by a large group of people and left 20 minutes after his arrival.
Video from ANI It showed fans throwing torn stadium seats and other objects onto the field and onto the field’s athletics track, while several people threw objects over the fence surrounding the field of play.
“I can’t believe there is such mismanagement,” said Eddie Lal Hmangaihzuala, who traveled nearly 1,500 km from Mizoram over two days to attend the event. “Messi left quickly, I think he didn’t feel safe. I hardly saw him.”
Organizers of the tour did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but West Bengal police director general Rajeev Kumar said the event’s chief organizer, Satadru Dutta, had been detained by police. “We are taking action to ensure that this mismanagement does not go unpunished,” Kumar told reporters. “He has already committed in writing that tickets sold for the event must be refunded.”
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee apologized to Messi and ordered an investigation into the incident. Banerjee, who was on her way to the event when chaos broke out, posted on X: “I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed at the Salt Lake stadium today.”
“I sincerely apologize to Lionel Messi, as well as all sports fans and fans, for the unfortunate incident that occurred. I am forming an investigation committee. The committee will conduct a detailed investigation into the incident, determine responsibility and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.”
The All India Football Federation said it was “deeply concerned” and distanced itself from the incident. The statement made by AIFF said: “The All India Football Federation is deeply concerned about the events that took place at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. This was a private event organized by a PR agency.”
“AIFF was not involved in any capacity in the organisation, planning or execution of this event. Furthermore, details of the event were neither communicated to AIFF nor any permission was sought from the Federation. We urge all participants to extend full cooperation with the relevant authorities and maintain order. The safety and security of all individuals concerned must remain the utmost priority.”
The states of West Bengal, Kerala and Goa have long had large football fan bases in India, normally dominated by cricket. Diego Maradona visited Kolkata twice and unveiled his own statue while hosting the World Cup in front of thousands of fans in 2017.
Messi, who played in the friendly match in which Argentina defeated Venezuela 1-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium in 2011, unveiled his almost 22-meter statue in Kolkata on Saturday.
