Lionel Messi's much-anticipated India tour kicked off with pandemonium in Kolkata this weekend, as frustrated fans tore through stadium seats when the football legend abruptly ended a public appearance at Salt Lake Stadium. The incident has raised questions about event security and fan management in major sporting events.
Fan Frenzy Turns Ugly
Thousands of supporters gathered Saturday hoping to see the Argentine icon, but tensions boiled over when Messi cut short his planned stadium walk. Viral videos show fans chanting "We want Messi!" before hurling plastic seats onto the pitch – a stark contrast to the "beautiful game" atmosphere organizers promised.
Organizer Detained, Probe Launched
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed police detained event organizer Satadru Dutta while announcing a full investigation. "We apologize to Messi and all football lovers," she stated, emphasizing the need for better crowd control measures at future events.
As cleanup crews worked overnight, sports analysts debate whether this incident will affect India's chances of hosting other international superstars. Messi is scheduled to continue his three-city tour through Monday.
