Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated tour of India got off to a rough start over the weekend after chaos broke out during his brief appearance at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. According to local reports, fans ripped up stadium seats and threw them toward the pitch after Messi left the venue just 20 minutes after arriving.

Messi is visiting India as part of a multi-city tour that includes concert appearances, youth football clinics, a padel tournament, and charity initiatives across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. In Kolkata, the 2022 World Cup winner walked around the pitch waving to fans but was surrounded by heavy crowds and security, prompting a quick exit that many attendees described as abrupt.

Videos from the scene showed fans climbing fences and hurling torn seats and debris onto the field. Some supporters, who had traveled long distances to see Messi, said poor organization and crowd control ruined the experience. One fan said he barely caught a glimpse of the football icon before he was escorted away, adding that Messi may have felt unsafe.

The fallout was swift. Event organizer Satadru Dutta was detained by police, and authorities confirmed that ticket refunds would be issued. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly apologized to Messi and ordered an investigation, calling the mismanagement “deeply disturbing.” The All India Football Federation also distanced itself, stressing the event was privately organized without its involvement.

Despite India’s massive football fanbase — especially in states like West Bengal and Kerala — the incident highlighted the challenges of managing superstar appearances in high-demand settings.