What was meant to be a celebratory moment for football fans turned into a disaster as the much-hyped appearance of Argentine legend Lionel Messi at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium descended into chaos.
Thousands of spectators gathered at the FIFA-approved venue, many after paying high ticket prices, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Argentine superstar. Instead, Messi’s visit lasted barely 22 minutes and ended abruptly after security arrangements broke down, leaving fans frustrated and angry.
#MessiInKolkata was on the pitch for 22 minutes. Fans paid 1000's to get a glimpse of their icon. Enquiry committee? Sack the sports minister first then let's sort it out. @MamataOfficial di it's a matter of shame. Will you sack your sports minister? pic.twitter.com/m9vx2KuGxP
— SDutta (@KhelaHobePart2) December 13, 2025
Soon after Messi emerged from the players’ tunnel, barricades were breached, and order quickly collapsed. With spectators unable to see the football icon clearly, tempers flared inside the stands. Bottles were thrown, fibreglass seats were damaged, and police were forced to intervene to prevent the situation from spiralling further out of control.
GLOBAL EMBARRASSMENT FOR INDIA. 🤯
– Lionel Messi left the stadium due to security concerns.
– Fans started throwing bottles onto the ground in Kolkata.
Probably the worst day of Lionel Messi’s career. 💔🤯
pic.twitter.com/bsPEbix8UJ— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) December 13, 2025
India’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) both blamed the organizers for the debacle. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the organizers’ eagerness, and that of people close to them, to crowd around Messi and take selfies deprived paying spectators of a clear view, triggering anger among fans.
He questioned the lack of planning and demanded accountability, pointing out that the disorder not only cut short Messi’s visit but also prevented a formal welcome from the state leadership.
The BJP, meanwhile, launched a sharper attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led government, calling the episode an “international embarrassment”.
Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala accused the authorities of failing to prepare adequately for a high-profile global event despite knowing the scale of public interest involved. He warned that the breakdown in security and crowd management posed serious risks and could have resulted in a tragedy.
Poonawala also alleged that political showmanship worsened the situation, claiming that leaders and officials surrounded the football star while genuine fans were kept at bay. Drawing parallels with past crowd-control failures, he said the incident once again exposed systemic weaknesses in handling large public gatherings.
In the aftermath, the West Bengal government announced an official enquiry to determine what went wrong, identify those responsible, and recommend steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Stay Connected with ProPakistani
Get the latest sports news, match updates, and player stories wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
