VIP shield, vanishing Messi: What triggered chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium

What was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for football fans in Kolkata spiralled into chaos, anger and vandalism on Saturday after thousands of spectators failed to get a clear glimpse of Lionel Messi at the Salt Lake Stadium.

Fans had packed the Yuva Bharati Krirangan from early morning on December 13, paying between Rs 4,000 and Rs 20,000 in the hope of seeing the Argentine superstar up close. But when Messi finally arrived, he was almost invisible to the galleries—surrounded tightly by organisers, ministers, officials and their families—sparking confusion and fury among the crowd.

Messi did reach the stadium on schedule and briefly entered the field amid heavy security. He waved and smiled, but from the stands, most spectators could not see him clearly. As frustration grew and shouts echoed through the galleries, police struggled to calm the crowd. Within just 20–23 minutes, Messi was escorted off the field for security reasons.

His abrupt exit proved to be the breaking point.

As news spread that Messi had left, the stadium descended into unrest. Angry fans began breaking chairs, hurling water bottles at police and setting fire to sofas inside the stands. Police quickly extinguished the fire and later used batons to disperse the crowd as the situation escalated.

“We came to see Messi, not ministers,” said Abhirup Das, one of many furious fans. “He was blocked by VIPs. We paid huge money and couldn’t even see him. The ticket money must be returned.”

Earlier, expectations had been sky-high. Organisers had promoted the event as a four-hour spectacle featuring a stadium lap by Messi, a coaching clinic for children and celebrity appearances. However, delays, overcrowding, poor communication and a programme dominated by performances before Messi’s arrival only added to mounting frustration.

Police later arrested the main organiser of the event, Satadru Dutta, as investigations began into the mismanagement. Authorities said Messi had to be removed for safety reasons and acknowledged that public expectations were not clearly communicated.

By evening, what remained was a damaged stadium, injured fans, and a city nursing a collective sense of betrayal—turning Messi’s much-hyped Kolkata appearance into one of Indian sport’s most chaotic and embarrassing episodes