What was billed as a celebratory stop on Lionel Messi’s highly publicized “GOAT Tour” of India spiraled into chaos and disorder, cutting the soccer icon’s appearance short and triggering arrests, investigations, and public apologies from government officials.
According to The New York Times, Messi arrived at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India, on Saturday, December 13, for the opening leg of a multi-city tour that also includes Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
The marquee moment of the day was the unveiling of a towering 70-foot statue honoring the Argentine star—reportedly the largest statue ever made of a soccer star.
Accompanied by teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, Messi briefly stepped onto the pitch and waved to the crowd amid deafening chants. But his appearance lasted roughly 20 minutes, far shorter than advertised, and he never completed a full lap around the field. Many fans, seated far from the tightly guarded group surrounding Messi, said they could barely see him.
“Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi,” one fan told India’s ANI news agency. “Why did they call us then? We paid 12,000 rupees, but we couldn’t even see his face.”
As it became clear Messi was leaving early, sections of the crowd rushed the pitch, ripped up stadium seats, and hurled debris. Goal nets were torn down, sound equipment was damaged, and police were forced to intervene. Authorities later confirmed that “mild force” was used to disperse crowds outside the hotel where Messi was staying.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly apologized, calling the situation “deeply disturbing” and announcing a formal inquiry. “I sincerely apologize to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans,” she wrote on X, adding that responsibility would be fixed and safeguards recommended.
The fallout escalated on Sunday, December 14, when police detained the event’s main organizer, Satadru Dutta, per ESPN. His bail request was denied, and he was remanded to 14 days in police custody as the investigation continues. Officials said fans who purchased tickets—some costing several times the average weekly salary in India—would be compensated.
India’s football federation distanced itself from the chaos, stressing it had no role in organizing the privately run event. But according to the BBC, despite the turmoil, Messi continued his tour, traveling to Hyderabad later that day, where local officials emphasized significantly tighter security.