‘Paid ₹12,000, Couldn’t Even See His Face’: Fans Angry After Chaos at Messi Event in Kolkata

Chaos broke out at 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 over poor visibility and crowd management.

According to spectators, tempers flared when large sections of the crowd realised they would not get a clear view of Messi despite purchasing high-priced tickets. Videos from the stadium showed angry fans hurling objects from the gallery, forcing security personnel to step in. Messi was eventually made to leave the venue early amid the disruption, news agency ANI reported.

A disappointed fan who claimed to have paid ₹12,000 for a ticket vented his frustration, saying Messi was surrounded by leaders and celebrities, leaving ordinary spectators unable to see him. “Why did they call us then?” the fan said, adding that he could not even catch a glimpse of the football icon.

Another spectator described the event as “absolutely terrible”, alleging that Messi stayed for barely 10 minutes, did not interact with fans or take part in any football activity, and that promised appearances by other celebrities never materialised. “So much money, emotions and time wasted,” the fan said.

Messi had arrived in Kolkata early Saturday morning to a massive welcome, with the city’s football-loving fans turning out in large numbers. However, excitement soon gave way to anger inside the stadium as complaints mounted over poor crowd control, limited visibility and a lack of clarity about access to the star.

Security officials moved quickly to contain the situation and ensure Messi’s safe exit. As of now, event organisers and authorities have not issued an official statement on the incident or confirmed whether anyone was injured or if property was damaged.