Lionel Messi’s tour of India began in chaos on Saturday after fans rioted at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium when the football star made only a brief appearance at a ticketed event.
Messi was scheduled to spend 45 minutes at the venue but left after about 20 minutes, triggering anger among fans who had paid between 3,500 rupees and as much as 130 dollars for tickets. Supporters tore up seats, threw objects onto the pitch and breached security barriers, forcing police intervention.
West Bengal police detained the event’s chief organiser, Satadru Dutta, over what authorities described as serious mismanagement. Police chief Rajeev Kumar said the organiser had given a written commitment that all ticket holders would be refunded.
Fans who travelled long distances said they barely saw Messi and believed he left due to safety concerns. Organisers did not respond to requests for comment.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised publicly to Messi and fans, calling the incident disturbing and unacceptable. She ordered a formal inquiry to identify those responsible and prevent future failures.
Messi is visiting India as part of a multi city tour that includes concerts, youth football clinics, sporting events and charitable initiatives in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Salt Lake Stadium has a history of crowd trouble, including a 2012 Kolkata derby that was abandoned after a player was seriously injured by a projectile from the stands. Despite the unrest, Kolkata has long been a football stronghold, previously hosting Diego Maradona and Messi himself during an international match in 2011.
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