A scar that will not heal: Kolkata will struggle to move on from Messi disaster

Chairs being vandalised amid chaos during an event of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi as part of his 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025', at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), in Kolkata. (Courtesy: PTI photo)

Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi went okay and Kolkata sticks out like a sore thumb. There is no debate it was a collective failure. The promoters, abominably poor organisation, the takeover of the political class, the presence of unwanted people inside the stadium who had no business being there- we have all seen what transpired. Add the unprofessionalism of Messi’s team to it as well for they could have acted with grace and fulfilled their commitments before rushing out.

This piece is not about that. This piece is about Kolkata. About the scar that will take a long time to heal. Our city is a laughing stock and a subject of global ridicule.

Many have asked how could the promoters have stopped the politicians? Is it even possible? It is a very fair point. The answer to this is if you can’t control the event, don’t do such an event. If there is a political takeover and if you knew it was happening, don’t get into things which you can’t control.

For every fan who was there, this scar will not heal. For everyone who watched on TV or digital and cringed, this scar will not heal. For each one of us who do sport, this scar will not heal. For the city, this is a long lasting shame.

I don’t belong to a political party. Don’t care for either. As a citizen of this city, I care for my city. Kolkata is the football capital of India and in Kolkata Messi did not touch a football at the Salt Lake Stadium. The reality is the world’s greatest footballer came to our city and went back without kicking a ball. Let’s keep blaming the politicians and the media people who were running around Messi and the film actors and the hangers on- the truth will not change. The reality is Messi left Kolkata without kicking a football.

I know it doesn’t matter. For Messi this was just a tour. He is used to extreme adulation. But still the fact that he did not even kick a ball in Kolkata, leave along conduct a clinic will forever stay with us as a nightmare that turned real. And that’s where we all should feel shame.

Who allowed the water bottles when there was a police directive?

Who allowed hundreds into the field of play? Was there no protocol and no accreditations?

Why did media people hound Messi inside the FOP? Even when photographers have inside access at say Eden Gardens, do they jump in and hound the cricketers?

If the politicians and VIP’s needed selfies and photos, why not go to the Hyatt and do it at the Meet and Greet? Am sure they had access.

Why did the hosts not clear the FOP before letting Messi enter? Just clear the stadium and get him in and close doors to everyone who did not have FOP access. Frankly it should have been a vanilla event. And we ended up with a royal mess.

As I said, this is a scar that will take time to heal.