Messi’s India Tour Begins with Disorder; Thousands of Fans Disappointed at Yuva Bharati

Staff Report: PNN

After 14 years, global football superstar Lionel Messi set foot on Indian soil. The Argentine captain arrived in Kolkata around 2:00 AM Friday night, marking the beginning of the highly anticipated “Goat India Tour 2025.” Fans crowded various parts of the city overnight just to catch a glimpse of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

According to the tour schedule, after Kolkata, Messi is set to visit Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The first official event was scheduled for Saturday at the Yuva Bharati Stadium in Salt Lake, Kolkata. Messi’s car entered the stadium around 11:30 AM, with thousands of fans eagerly waiting in the galleries.

However, chaos erupted as Messi arrived. Fans swarmed him immediately upon his arrival, breaking through the security barrier, and for a long time, he was not visible to the audience. Frustrated, fans started chanting “We Want Messi.”

Security personnel kept Messi protected, and fans relied on the stadium’s giant screens to catch a glimpse. Even a brief interaction with former Mohun Bagan and Diamond Harbour footballers could not be controlled.

To calm the situation, Sports Minister Arup Biswas and chief organizer Shatadru Dutta repeatedly urged the crowd to remain calm. Yet, the situation did not improve, and about 20 minutes later, Messi was abruptly escorted out of the stadium.

Upon learning Messi had left, fans erupted in anger. Some broke hoardings and chairs, while others threw chairs onto the field. Part of the crowd entered the field after breaking fencing gates, pushing the situation completely out of control. Police temporarily struggled to manage the crowd, ultimately deploying additional security to clear the stadium.

This chaos around one of football’s greatest icons raises serious questions about security and crowd management in Indian stadiums. Still, it highlighted the continued immense enthusiasm for Messi in India.