Sunil Gavaskar has ignited a debate by questioning Lionel Messi's commitment to fans during a recent appearance in Kolkata as part of his "GOAT India Tour 2025". The legendary Indian cricketer has pinpointed Messi himself as the "real culprit" for the chaos that unfolded at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13th.
The event, which was promoted as a two-hour fan interaction featuring Messi alongside Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, was cut short, leaving many ticket-buying fans disappointed. The abrupt departure led to unrest among the crowd, with some resorting to vandalism. Consequently, tour organizer Satadru Dutta was detained by Kolkata police, and fingers were pointed at local authorities and VIPs for alleged mismanagement and creating a "VIP culture".
However, Gavaskar is not convinced by these explanations. Writing in his Sportstar column, he argues that if Messi had agreed to a specific duration for his appearance, he and his team should be held responsible for failing to honor that commitment. "Everyone was blamed except the person who failed to honour his commitment," Gavaskar stated. "What the agreement was isn't public, but if he was meant to be there for an hour and left well before that time and disappointing fans who had paid good money, the real culprit was he and his entourage".
Gavaskar also dismissed suggestions that security concerns forced Messi's early exit. He noted that Messi was surrounded by politicians and VIPs but insisted there was no real threat to his safety or that of his team. Gavaskar questioned why Messi couldn't have engaged in a simple activity, such as taking a penalty kick or walking around the stadium, which would have satisfied the fans. "Was he supposed to simply walk around the stadium, or do something tangible like take a penalty kick? If it were the latter, those around him would automatically have had to move, and the crowd would have seen their hero do what they had come to watch," Gavaskar wrote.
Furthermore, Gavaskar highlighted that Messi's appearances in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi were successful, implying that the issues in Kolkata were specific to that event. He attributed the smooth execution of the other events to the fulfillment of commitments. "The other appearances went smoothly because commitments were met," Gavaskar added. He suggests that before blaming local organizers, it's crucial to examine whether all parties involved upheld their promises.
Messi's visit to Kolkata was highly anticipated, with over 50,000 fans gathering to see the football icon at the Salt Lake Stadium. The event was billed as a two-hour interaction alongside his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. However, Messi's brief appearance and subsequent departure after approximately 20 minutes led to outrage and vandalism. Gavaskar's comments have added fuel to the fire, shifting the focus of blame towards Messi and his team for failing to meet their obligations to the fans.
