Kolkata: Football great Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata ended in chaos after fans, who had paid thousands for passes to the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake, were unable to catch a glimpse of him.
The fans vented their anger by throwing plastic water bottles and other rubbish onto the field after the Argentine captain left the venue with Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez.
People complained of mismanagement as the police, cameramen and pitch invaders flocked to get the best sight of Messi, cutting off the view from the stands.
“Please give him space, please vacate the field,” the organisers appealed, as per The Telegraph.
Messi reached the Stadium in the stadium during the second half of the Mohun Bagan vs Diamond Harbour match. Everyone who had access to the field ran towards the Audi carrying the Argentine superstar.
Clad in black, Messi was closely followed by security. Over 15 minutes on the ground and with the number of people only growing, the management was unable to clear a view for fans who paid in thousands for a glimpse of their idol, it was reported by the newspaper.
Apart from security personnel, the football ace was also accompanied by organiser Satadru Dutta and Bengal minister Aroop Biswas. Both of them tried their best to provide the audience a clear sight of Messi.
Messi, who stands at 5’7”, was barely visible even from the press box and the photographers played a guessing game as to where exactly the GOAT was, it was reported.
Fans were heard booing at the gross mismanagement. Some chanted “We Want Messi” even as he walked back to the car, still surrounded by his entourage, just 22 minutes after he entered the stadium.
After Messi’s departure, angry fans hurled plastic bottles and trash on the ground. Later, police had to resort to a lathi-charged to disperse the enraged crowd that ran amok at the stadium following Messi’s exit.
