Football superstar Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated visit to Kolkata on Friday ended abruptly after chaos broke out at the Salt Lake Stadium due to alleged crowd mismanagement and organisational lapses.
The event, intended as a celebratory appearance for fans, descended into disorder as spectators expressed frustration over limited visibility, restricted access and claims of preferential treatment for VIPs, leading to bottles and other objects being thrown onto the field and damage to stadium infrastructure.
Amid escalating unrest, security personnel swiftly escorted Messi out of the venue within minutes, cutting short his interaction with fans.
Several political leaders present at the event were booed by sections of the crowd, underscoring public anger over the handling of the programme.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later issued a public apology to Messi and announced an enquiry into the incident, while opposition parties criticised the state government, calling the episode an international embarrassment and a reflection of administrative failure.