Kolkata, India – A highly anticipated visit by football icon Lionel Messi to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium turned chaotic, sparking a political firestorm. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, labeling the event a "total embarrassment" on an international stage.
Thousands of fans, many of whom had waited since early morning and paid hefty sums for tickets, were left разочарован. Messi's appearance was brief, and he was quickly surrounded by VIPs, organizers, and security personnel, making it difficult for the majority of spectators to catch a clear glimpse of him. Videos circulating on social media show angry fans throwing bottles and chairs, and damaging banners and hoardings in frustration. Some even attempted to break through barricades to reach the pitch.
BJP leaders were quick to seize on the incident. BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari shared footage of the chaos on social media platform X, decrying the "complete mismanagement" and "zero planning" for the event. He stated that Messi was forced to leave within just 15 minutes, while "inept TMC leaders surrounded him!". Sukanta Majumdar, another BJP leader, accused the TMC government of corruption, alleging that tickets were sold at exorbitant rates. The BJP has also shared images and public reactions from the stadium to underline what they termed an administrative failure.
In response to the uproar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has apologized to Messi, his fans, and sports lovers for the "unfortunate incident". Banerjee announced the formation of an enquiry committee, headed by retired Calcutta High Court Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, to investigate the mismanagement. The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
"I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium," Banerjee said in a post on X. "I sincerely apologize to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident".
Eyewitnesses reported that frustration grew as fans chanted "We want Messi". The situation escalated when the footballer was escorted out of the stadium before several invited dignitaries had even arrived.
The incident has cast a shadow over Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, with questions being raised about the organizational capabilities for such high-profile events. The star footballer is scheduled to visit other cities in India, including Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. It remains to be seen whether the organizers will take corrective measures to ensure a smoother experience for fans in those locations.
Adding to the day's events, Messi virtually inaugurated his 70-foot statue at Lake Town in Kolkata. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was also present in Kolkata for the event and reportedly met Messi.
