Kolkata, Dec 13 (UNI) The G.O.A.T India Tour, tagged as the biggest sports spectacle of the year, descended into chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated visit, leaving fans frustrated and security officials scrambling to restore order.
Many fans, some of whom spent up to Rs 18,000 on tickets, left the venue shattered and disappointed as they were unable to catch a glimpse of the star. They alleged that the organisers had cheated them, as their hopes of seeing their idol were dashed due to gross crowd mismanagement and security lapses.
Fans, who had waited hours inside packed galleries, claimed the event felt like a “total scam,” with ordinary spectators pushed to the margins while VIPs and politically connected individuals gained access to the pitch and the football icon himself. The growing sense of exclusion and unfairness quickly transformed excitement into fury.
One of the most glaring failures involved the presence of plastic water bottles inside the stadium, despite the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate having clearly announced beforehand that no water bottles would be allowed.
As the situation spiralled out of control, bottles were seen raining onto the pitch from the galleries, triggering panic among security personnel and forcing Messi’s entourage to cut short their presence on the field.
Senior police officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that the situation was not anticipated to deteriorate so rapidly.
“We had clearly instructed that water bottles would not be permitted. How such a large number of bottles made their way into the stands is a serious lapse that needs internal examination,” said a senior officer.
Another officer conceded that once objects started flying onto the pitch, crowd control became nearly impossible. “The moment objects started flying, the priority shifted to evacuation rather than engagement,” he said.
Police sources also admitted a mismatch between the size of the crowd and the number of personnel deployed inside the stadium. With tens of thousands packed into the galleries, large sections were left with minimal monitoring, allowing frustration to snowball unchecked. Several spectators alleged that police personnel were overwhelmed and unable to respond effectively as tempers flared.
Tensions peaked when sections of the crowd noticed that a large number of people, allegedly close to the ruling party, were allowed access to the field of play. Their proximity to Messi, while paying spectators remained confined to distant stands, sparked intense anger.
Fans complained that despite paying ticket prices ranging from Rs 4,500 to Rs 18,000, many could barely catch a glimpse of their idol, who remained surrounded by politicians, organisers, officials, and celebrities.
“The perception that politically connected people were given special access completely changed the mood of the crowd,” a police officer said. “Once spectators felt they were being treated unfairly, the anger turned uncontrollable.”
As frustration mounted, fans began throwing water-filled bottles and even plastic chairs onto the pitch. Several fibreglass seats were damaged, sponsor banners were torn down and there were attempts to vandalise parts of the goalpost. The pitch soon became overcrowded with police personnel, cameramen, organisers and unauthorised entrants, further complicating efforts to restore order.
Riot police and the Rapid Action Force were deployed as fans invaded the pitch and ransacked chairs, shamianas, and posters, while massive protests erupted outside the stadium. Several police personnel were reportedly injured.
The Argentine superstar, who had arrived at the stadium around 11:15 am, was forced to leave within 15 minutes due to the escalating chaos and security concerns. He had to cut short his planned lap of honour, a major disappointment for fans. He is now at the city’s airport, ready to depart for Hyderabad.
The frustration finally boiled over into vandalism, and the administration was forced to deploy. The Rapid Action Force was to defuse the anger of the irate mob.
The incident highlighted serious security challenges and a massive failure of event management. Police were deployed to restore order, but the situation quickly deteriorated.
Many fans demanded the resignation of state sports minister Aroop Biswas.
Many police personnel were injured even as the funds demanded a refund.
Fans and observers took to social media to call the event an “absolute disgrace” and a “complete flop event”.
