Things did not go as planned at the Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday during an event linked to Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi, after frustrated fans began throwing bottles and chairs from the stands. Chaos broke out as fans could not get a glimpse of the football legend.
A disappointed fan, who claimed to have paid ₹12,000 for a ticket, voiced his anger, saying, “Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi. Why did they call us then. We have got a ticket for 12 thousand, but we were not even able to see his face”. Watch the video here
Another fan said “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. They said they would bring Shah Rukh Khan too. They didn’t bring anyone. He came for 10 minutes and left. So much money, emotions, and time wasted. We couldn’t see anything”
Security officials acted swiftly to contain the situation and ensure Messi’s safe exit from the venue. No official statement has yet been issued by event organisers or the authorities regarding injuries or damage caused during the incident.
“All the people you see here love football. We all wanted to see Messi, but it was a total scam. We want our money back. The management was so bad. It is a black day for Kolkata. Kolkata is known for football, and we love football, we love Argentina, but this experience is absolutely a scam. The ministers were there with their children, and the other people could not see anything. We are very hurt.” said a fan.
This visit was Messi’s first trip to India since 2011. During his previous visit, he had played a friendly match at Salt Lake Stadium, where Argentina defeated Venezuela 1-0, leaving an indelible memory for fans. Fans got to witness him in action for 90 minutes
