Angry fans attending Lionel Messi's tour of India ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch after his appearance at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. Thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to catch a glimpse of the football star, but were left disappointed when he emerged to walk around the pitch and was obscured by a large group of officials and celebrities.
When the Argentina and Inter Miami forward was whisked away early by security after around 20 minutes, elements of the crowd turned hostile. West Bengal's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, said she was deeply disturbed and shocked by the events.
Announcing an enquiry, Banerjee apologized to Messi and sports lovers for the incident at the stadium. The [enquiry] committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, she stated.
Messi, who is on his 'GOAT tour' in India, was expected to play a short exhibition game but instead faced an angry crowd that expected more interaction. Fans expressed their frustration, stating they did not pay to see politicians and officials but came to see Messi himself.
The event, initially filled with excitement and anticipation, took a chaotic turn when fans stormed the pitch and vandalized the area as Messi left early. This reaction prompted swift action from authorities, leading to arrests and plans for potential ticket refunds.
When the Argentina and Inter Miami forward was whisked away early by security after around 20 minutes, elements of the crowd turned hostile. West Bengal's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, said she was deeply disturbed and shocked by the events.
Announcing an enquiry, Banerjee apologized to Messi and sports lovers for the incident at the stadium. The [enquiry] committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, she stated.
Messi, who is on his 'GOAT tour' in India, was expected to play a short exhibition game but instead faced an angry crowd that expected more interaction. Fans expressed their frustration, stating they did not pay to see politicians and officials but came to see Messi himself.
The event, initially filled with excitement and anticipation, took a chaotic turn when fans stormed the pitch and vandalized the area as Messi left early. This reaction prompted swift action from authorities, leading to arrests and plans for potential ticket refunds.
