Lionel Messi’s much-hyped tour of India got off to a chaotic start on Saturday when fans vandalised chairs, threw bottles and ran onto the pitch after his appearance at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
The Times of India reported that many ticket-holders said that they failed to see Messi at all — either in person or on the stadium’s big screens — despite waiting for hours for a glimpse of the football star.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee apologised to the Argentine soccer star for the “mismanagement” of the event.
“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium,” Banerjee wrote on social media, where she also expressed her apologies to fans who had expected more after paying for tickets.
“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.
Banerjee said a committee would be formed to “conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.”
Messi’s three-day “GOAT India Tour”, meaning Greatest Of All Time, is the stars first visit to India in 14 years.
It will see the World Cup winner travel from Kolkata to Hyderabad and then Mumbai before concluding in New Delhi on Monday. He was joined by longtime teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
Earlier Saturday, Messi remotely “unveiled” a 70-foot statue of himself in Kolkata.
The three-day, four-city trip is set to include fan interactions, celebrity football games, cultural programs and charity events.
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