Messi's India Tour Marred by Violence
Lionel Messi made headlines for unfortunate reasons on Saturday as his three-day tour of India turned violent.
The Argentine football legend was visiting Kolkata at the start of a promotional tour that included four cities. Many of Messi's fans were disappointed when they were unable to catch a glimpse of one of the world's most renowned athletes. This marked Messi's first visit to India since 2011.
This is how his visit unfolded.
Why was Messi in India?
Fresh from helping Inter Miami secure the MLS Cup for the first time, Messi was on a promotional tour dubbed the GOAT India Tour 2025, with 'GOAT' signifying 'greatest of all time.' He was accompanied by fellow Inter Miami stars Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.
The tour commenced in Kolkata on Saturday, with the trio moving to Hyderabad later that day, followed by visits to Mumbai on Sunday and New Delhi on Monday. India was the only country included in this promotional tour.
How much did tickets cost?
Various ticket options were available to accommodate different budgets. For stadium access alone, tickets were priced at 3,500 rupees (£29) for Kolkata and Hyderabad, and 4,200 rupees (£35) for New Delhi. These prices represent about half of the average weekly wage in India, leading to inflated prices on the resale market, with some fans reportedly paying up to 12,000 rupees (£99) for entry.
Additionally, a VVIP ticket option included a meet-and-greet with Messi, allowing for a photograph, with only 100 such tickets available at a cost of one million rupees (£8,200).
What was supposed to happen in Kolkata?
Messi arrived in Kolkata at 01:30 local time, greeted by thousands of fans lining the streets and gathering outside his hotel. The day began with meet-and-greet ticket holders attending from 09:00 to 10:30.
However, events took an unexpected turn when a 70-foot statue of Messi lifting the World Cup was virtually unveiled, with Messi appearing on a video screen to perform the unveiling via remote control. Following this, Messi met Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan before heading to Salt Lake Stadium at 11:30.
Although he was scheduled to stay at the stadium for an hour, Messi departed after just 20 minutes, leading to chaos as ticket holders were unable to see him due to the presence of security, politicians, and celebrities. One frustrated fan expressed to ANI, "Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi. Why did they call us then? We paid 12,000 rupees for a ticket but didn't even get to see his face." Another supporter lamented, "I paid 5,000 rupees for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians."
There was also supposed to be a friendly match with local players, which ultimately did not take place. Messi was quickly whisked away to Hyderabad.
What was the extent of the trouble in Kolkata?
After Messi's brief appearance at the stadium, frustrated supporters stormed the pitch, vandalizing banners and tents, and throwing plastic chairs and water bottles. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her shock and concern over the events, announcing an inquiry and apologizing to Messi and "sports lovers" for the incident.
Banerjee stated, "The committee will conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future." A spokesperson for Messi confirmed that he adhered to the agreed time commitment, while referring to Banerjee's apology regarding the event's organization. Kolkata's Telegraph newspaper criticized the incident as a result of poor management and lack of coordination, describing the stadium as a "battlefield." Event organizer Satadru Dutta was arrested and remanded in police custody for 14 days.
What happened on the rest of Messi's tour?
The remainder of Messi's tour reportedly proceeded without incident, with fans able to see Messi, Suarez, and De Paul. The Times of India noted that the event in Hyderabad was successful, with Messi remaining on the pitch for a full hour. On Sunday, Messi met cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
Fog delayed their arrival in New Delhi on Monday, where thousands gathered at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Fans enjoyed a half-hour appearance as the trio kicked balls into the stands, passed balls with children, and signed autographs.