What was meant to be a historic celebration of football turned into a scene of chaos in Kolkata. Lionel Messi’s appearance at Salt Lake Stadium during the GOAT India Tour ended with angry fans, broken barricades, and police intervention.
Hundreds of ticket-holding spectators lost their temper after failing to get a clear view of the Argentine superstar. The situation quickly escalated into a stampede-like atmosphere inside the stadium.
Bottles and plastic chairs flew from the stands. The stadium property suffered damage. Authorities rushed in to control the situation as frustration spilled over.
Why Fans Were Angry Over Messi
Fans paid premium prices to attend the event. Many bought tickets ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000. Several spectators claimed they barely saw Messi during his short appearance.
Messi entered the stadium, waved briefly, and remained surrounded by political leaders, actors, and organisers. This left large sections of the crowd disappointed and angry.
A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi said, “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…”
#WATCH | Kolkata: A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi says, “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…” https://t.co/Ce4kNu8dBH pic.twitter.com/WUAOG4xc1V
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
The disappointment reflected the mood inside the stadium.
Violence Breaks Out Inside Salt Lake Stadium
As tempers flared, some spectators broke barricades. Others hurled water bottles toward the field. Videos showed plastic chairs being thrown from the upper tiers.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Angry fans vandalised the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, alleging poor management of the event #GOATIndiaTour2025 #LionelMessi pic.twitter.com/Z4KuLfbHDK
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
One person sustained injuries during the chaos. Angry fans vandalised parts of the stadium, blaming poor crowd control and mismanagement.
Security personnel struggled to contain the unrest as organisers attempted to calm the situation.
Messi Leaves for Hyderabad
Amid the unrest, Lionel Messi left the venue and headed straight to Kolkata airport. He is now en route to Hyderabad, the next stop of the GOAT India Tour.
Images of Messi travelling to the airport surfaced soon after the chaos. While the footballer and his camp avoided public comment, uncertainty now surrounds the rest of the tour.
Great disappointment for fans. I have been writing this and was always concerned about security.
Had mentioned to the promoters many times that the focus had to be on security and the fan had to be at the center of it.
Fans who earn 20k bought a 10k ticket. This is very… pic.twitter.com/bjLuecSfo6
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) December 13, 2025
There is a growing feeling among fans and observers that the future of the tour hangs in the balance.
Questions Over Event Management
The incident has triggered serious questions about planning and execution. Fans accused organisers of overselling tickets without ensuring visibility and safety.
Many believe the organisers underestimated the crowd’s expectations. Others say the focus shifted away from fans toward VIP interactions. Calls for accountability are growing louder, especially after visuals of vandalism and injured spectators went viral online.
What Happens Next for the GOAT India Tour
The Hyderabad event is scheduled next. Authorities there are expected to tighten security and improve crowd arrangements.
Whether the remaining events can regain public trust remains uncertain. For now, the Kolkata episode has overshadowed the excitement around Messi’s India visit.
Instead of celebration, the tour’s opening leg has sparked debate, anger, and scrutiny.
