Chaos broke out at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday following the arrival of Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, as severe mismanagement led to overcrowding, security lapses, and widespread unrest among fans.
Chaotic scenes unfolded at the stadium where fans resorted to vandalism, booed and threw bottles following mismanagement during the event at Kolkata Stadium upon the arrival of Lionel Messi. Tents and hoardings were destroyed as overcrowding and security lapses forced Messi to cut short his appearance at the stadium. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was forced to issue a formal apology to football superstar Lionel Messi following the chaos at the event.
Messi reached Kolkata on Saturday as large crowds gathered at the airport and lined the streets to welcome him. Indian news agency ANI said the soccer player was escorted out of the airport through an alternative route because an overwhelming number of people turned out at the airport to catch a glimpse of their favourite football player.
Messi is visiting India as part of his greatest of all time tour and is set to visit four Indian cities including Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
A 70-foot tall statue of Messi has also been built to mark his visit. The statue is set to be inaugurated Saturday and Messi is scheduled to take part in the inauguration ceremony.
Read more: Messi to unveil 21-metre statue of himself on India ‘GOAT’ tour
While apologising, the Chief Minister extended her sincere apologies to the football legend as well as to the sports lovers and fans who were unable to witness the event properly. She expressed regret over the chaotic tones of events, acknowledging the frustration and disappointment of fans who had gathered in large numbers to welcome the Argentinian superstar. To address the matter, she announced of constituting an inquiry committee.
I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favorite footballer Lionel Messi,”Banerjee said in a statement.
“I am constituting an inquiry committee under the chairmanship of Justice Retired Ashan Kumar Ray with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary Home and Hill Affairs Department as members. The committee will conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrence in the future,” she said further.
Fans, including those who had paid premium ticket prices, expressed anger for the mismanagement and never being able to see Messi neither up close nor in the Kolkata stadium’s giant screen despite waiting for hours. The dense security cordon and the presence of politicians and dignitaries further restricted visibility leaving spectators disappointed and irritated.