What was meant to be a landmark football event in Kolkata quickly spiralled into chaos on Saturday afternoon, with fans accusing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership of being given priority access during Lionel Messi’s appearance at the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Salt Lake Stadium.
The Argentine star’s GOAT Tour stop was marred by crowd unrest, with bottles thrown and hoardings damaged inside the stadium. Angry spectators alleged poor management and claimed that political leaders and VVIPs were allowed close access to Messi, while ticket-paying fans were left frustrated.
According to fans, Messi was visible only briefly and remained surrounded by security personnel and political leaders, leaving large sections of the crowd unable to get even a glimpse of him despite paying high ticket prices. Many said the minimum ticket price was Rs 5,000.
“This was a complete fraud. Messi was not shown at all. Only reporters, police, and TMC leaders got to see him. We paid Rs 5,000 for tickets, while those who came for free were able to see Messi and leave,” one fan alleged.
Another supporter said Messi stayed at the venue for barely 10 minutes. “Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn’t see anything. He didn’t take a single kick or a single penalty. So much money, emotions, and time wasted,” the fan said.
Several fans also claimed that the event failed to deliver on promises made during promotions, including appearances by other celebrities.
“They said they would bring Shah Rukh Khan too. They didn’t bring anyone. The sports minister was clicking pictures with Messi while we were struggling to see him,” another supporter alleged, calling the episode “shameful” for both the organisers and the government.
Messi left the stadium shortly after his brief appearance, further fuelling resentment among fans. Many demanded refunds, saying they were denied value for money and basic crowd visibility despite paying premium prices.
“There were VVIPs all around Messi. Why were we kept away after paying so much? Everyone was furious. We want a refund,” a fan said.
“This was absolute chaos. The management and authorities were rubbish. We all came because we love football and wanted to see Messi, but it turned out to be a total scam. We want our money back,” another fan lashed out. Calling the episode a “black day for Kolkata,” he added that while the city is known for its deep football culture and affection for Argentina, ordinary fans were left hurt and humiliated.
The supporter further alleged that ministers and their families were given privileged access, while paying spectators were denied even a basic view of Messi. “The ministers were there with their children, and the rest of us could not see anything. We are very hurt,” he remarked.
Another fan said he paid Rs 12,000 for a ticket but was unable to even catch a glimpse of the football star. “I bought a ticket for Rs 12,000 but didn’t even see Messi’s face. All the leaders and politicians were surrounding him,” he alleged.
He blamed the West Bengal government for what he called a failure in management. “This is really poor management from the West Bengal government. They literally scammed people’s hard-earned money,” the fan said, expressing deep disappointment over the experience.
Police were forced to intervene as the situation escalated, using mild force to disperse the agitated crowd outside the stadium, reported ANI.
West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, responding to the incident, took to the microblogging site X, saying she is "deeply disturbed".
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