MENU

Messi in India: GOAT India Tour kicks off with Chaos in Kolkata, high hopes in Hyderabad

Neha Buswal

Lionel Messi's Kolkata visit ends in chaos, vandalism


Lionel Messi has touched down in Hyderabad, and the security has been raised after the Kolkata event chaos. There have been extensive checks from the dog squad, and 3,000 personnel have been deployed with a three-tier security setup at the Uppal stadium. There will be heavy surveillance via 450 CCTV cameras and drones.

Several events are lined up during the tour, including an exhibition match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is also set to play a short match with Lionel Messi between two celebrity teams – “Singareni RR9,” led by Reddy, and the “Aparna-Messi All Stars”, captained by Messi.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has also landed in Hyderabad and will be attending the event as a VIP guest.

Messi in India: Highlights and fan unrest from GOAT’s Kolkata city tour

Messi departed from the Kolkata airport around 2 pm after he left early from the Salt Lake Stadium.

West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar confirmed that the main organiser of the recent event featuring the football star in Kolkata has been detained following widespread chaos and mismanagement. The DGP stated that compensation for disappointed fans is also “on the cards”.


The chief minister of Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee, was unable to meet Messi after he had to leave Salt Lake Stadium early due to the crowd turning violent. She took to X to apologise to the football superstar for the mismanagement and announced for an enquiry to be conducted into the incident.

“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi.”

“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident. I am constituting an enquiry committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Ashim Kumar Ray, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, as members. The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. Once again, I extend my heartfelt apologies to all sports lovers.”

 

The fans were disappointed after they were unable to catch a glimpse of the star. The frustrated fans threw bottles on the ground and tore seats. The scenes quickly turned chaotic, and the images emerging from the stadium paint a worrying picture.

The police arrived at the stadium to manage the disappointed crowd booing the officials and politicians.


Messi arrived at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata to a roaring welcome from thousands of fans. Earlier, the football legend met Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his son Abram at the private meet-and-greet. The excitement inside the stadium continues to build as supporters await Messi’s appearance.

 

The global icon virtually unveiled his towering 70-foot statue in Kolkata, accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. The unveiling took place from the Hyatt Regency Kolkata hotel. The statue is installed at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town.

 

Messi arrived in Kolkata late at night, drawing massive crowds of fans who gathered at the airport hoping to catch a glimpse of the football icon. He was escorted directly to his hotel under tight security, as a large number of supporters were also waiting there.

 

Messi ‘GOAT India tour’: Day 1 in Kolkata and Hyderabad

December 13, Kolkata

  • 1:30 AM: Arrival in Kolkata
  • 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM: Meet-and-greet programme
  • 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM: Virtual inauguration of Messi’s statue
  • 11:15 AM to 11:25 AM: Arrival at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), commonly known as the Salt Lake Stadium.
  • 11:30 AM: Shah Rukh Khan arrives at Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
  • 12:00 PM: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Sourav Ganguly arrive at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium)
  • 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM: A short exhibition match between the “Mohun Bagan All-Stars” and “Diamond Harbour All-Stars” teams.
  • 2:00 PM: Messi will depart for Hyderabad.

 

December 13, Hyderabad

  • 7:00 PM: 7v7 match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium featuring Lionel Messi, followed by a musical concert

Also Read