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Lionel Messi’s visits to India in 2011 and 2025 present a striking contrast, not only in purpose and format but also in crowd behaviour, law-and-order preparedness, and overall event management. While the earlier visit remains remembered as a landmark sporting occasion marked by order and enthusiasm, the latter has been overshadowed by mismanagement and unrest at Salt Lake Stadium, prompting serious questions about planning and governance.
In 2011, Messi arrived in Kolkata as the captain of the Argentina national team for an international friendly match against Venezuela at Salt Lake Stadium. The visit was rooted firmly in sport, with fans attending to watch a full, competitive football match. The event followed established international protocols governing ticketing, seating, security, and crowd control, overseen by football authorities and state agencies. Despite the massive turnout and intense excitement, law and order were effectively maintained, and fan behaviour largely remained disciplined and celebratory, consistent with the norms of a regulated sporting fixture.
The 2025 visit, by contrast, was part of the commercially branded GOAT Tour of India, designed as a promotional and fan-engagement exercise rather than a competitive football event. Although expectations were high, the absence of a match and the limited duration of Messi’s public appearance created a disconnect between what fans anticipated and what was delivered. This gap was further exacerbated by inadequate crowd management, restricted visibility, and poor communication on the ground, particularly within the stadium environment.
Law and Order
Law and order arrangements in 2025 proved insufficient for the scale and emotional intensity of the gathering. Thousands of fans who had paid significant sums for tickets were unable to see Messi clearly, leading to mounting frustration. “There was visible anger and anxiety among fans who believed Lionel Messi would play, whereas the plan was limited to his arrival, a brief interaction, and departure,” DGP Bengal Rajeev Kumar said during a press conference.
Authorities have taken Satadru Dutta, the organiser of the Kolkata segment of the GOAT India Tour, into custody following the disorder that erupted at Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday. The disturbances forced Lionel Messi to cut his appearance short. “He stated that the state government has constituted a committee to examine all aspects of the incident, including possible mismanagement by the organisers. Kumar added that the organisers have given written assurances regarding ticket refunds to those concerned, the situation is now under control, and the organiser has been detained,” DGP Kumar added.
At Yuba Bharati Krirangan, frustrated fans, unable to catch a proper glimpse of the football legend, threw bottles and chairs, leading to chaos. Messi’s stay at the venue lasted only a few minutes before he was escorted out for safety reasons.
Unlike in 2011, sections of the crowd crossed the threshold from disappointment to disorder, throwing bottles, uprooting chairs, damaging temporary structures, and forcing authorities to intervene reactively rather than preventively. Messi was ultimately escorted out of the stadium earlier than planned due to security concerns.
Fan Behavior
Fan behaviour in the two visits reflects this structural difference. In 2011, spectators were focused on the match itself, and their engagement followed the rhythms of a football game.
In 2025, the experience was more emotionally charged and transactional, with fans expecting proximity and access to a global icon. When those expectations were not met due to managerial lapses, the disappointment manifested as anger and vandalism, an outcome unseen during Messi’s earlier Kolkata appearance. Only actors and politicians their kin and Ministers were allowed near the football star, leading to more frustration among fans who invested thousands of their income to purchase tickets. “Messi was surrounded the entire time and the crowd couldn’t even see him despite paying 10k-15k for this event,” one wrote on X. Another said, “We could only see him for 10 seconds. Only politicians and organisers were crowding him. Is this what we get for against such high priced tickets.”
Political War of Words
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday expressed deep shock and distress over the mismanagement witnessed at Salt Lake Stadium, where chaos erupted during football icon Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata. Taking to social media, the Chief Minister issued a public apology to Messi and to thousands of sports lovers who had gathered at the stadium hoping to catch a glimpse of the global football star.
“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 favourite footballer, Lionel Messi. I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” she wrote on X.
Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, launched a blistering attack on the state government, accusing ministers and ruling party leaders of monopolising access to Messi while ordinary spectators were left frustrated. “Extreme chaos at Lionel Messi’s event at Yuva Bharati, where leaders, ministers and celebrities clung to Messi like leeches,” Adhikari said in a post on X. He alleged that while fans were charged thousands of rupees for tickets, they were left with “just five to seven minutes of viewing on the giant screen”.
