AIFF Chief Kalyan Chaubey expressed his dismay with the unfortunate events at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday as chaos grabbed the headlines during Argentine World Cup-winner Lionel Messi’s GOAT
India Tour 2025 opener.
Messi arrived in Kolkata early on Saturday morning to great enthusiasm as thousands of followers gathered hoped to catch a glimpse of the icon. He unveiled a statue of his likeness, holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, at Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, South Dum Dum.
However, what should have gone down as a day of celebration in the annals of the sport in the nation, will be remembered for its gross mismanagement as politicians and organisers obstructed fans’ view of the Argentine superstar during his lap of honour at VYBK, which led to security breaches and forced Messi to stop his lap of honour midway. Frustrated with the event’s organisation, fans began removing chairs and throwing various objects.
Chaubey highlighted the global appeal of the Argentine superstar and iterated the fallout of the fiasco could hamper the image and development of the sport in the nation.
“Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the world’s greatest footballers and are followed by millions across the globe,” he said during a BJP media interaction.
“Football is played across 211 countries. There is no country in the world where football is not played; even on the smallest islands, football is played. When these two go anywhere, the world media follow them and follow their every move.”
“This is not a loss for just one person or any political party; it is a loss for Bengal and for the whole country.”
“If today India bids for an international match in West Bengal, this event will act as an impediment. It is not just about today, when the event could not be held properly, its impact will be felt for 50 years in Bengal.”
Chaubey recollected the successful organisation of events featuring legendary names including the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, Oliver Kahn and Lothar Matthaus in befitting manner.
“All those programmes were conducted with dignity. What happened at the Salt Lake Stadium yesterday was avoidable. For Bengal and Kolkata, this will be remembered for a long time.
“India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030. Sport is soft power, with football at the top, and this incident has given the country a bad name across 211 football-playing nations,” Chaubey said.
“I think we should have discussed these technical issues. We should have followed the do’s and don’ts and the rules so that the programme could have been conducted smoothly, as we have seen in the past.” he said.
After a chaotic start to the Tour on Saturday morning at the Salt Lake Stadium, the Hyderabad leg in the evening helped offset the pandemonium in Kolkata. Messi appeared comfortable on the field, passing the ball around with teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, as Telangana CM Revanth Reddy also joined in.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner thrilled fans with a few touches before sending lucky spectators home with a memento by kicking a ball into the stands, where excited followers scrambled to catch it. Messi was honoured by Reddy and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following the exhibition game in Uppal.
After the event in Telangana, Messi flew to Mumbai, where another exciting day awaited him. The Maximum City painted itself in shades reminiscent of the Argentine World Cup winner as followers decorated the streets, turning the iconic Marine Drive into a tribute to the miracle man from Rosario. Fans adorned the famous Mumbai local trains with banners, scarves, and jerseys, paying homage to the Argentine World Cup winner.
Messi, along with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, received a raucous reception at the iconic stadium in the Maximum City. The Argentine genius greeted legendary Indian striker Sunil Chhetri upon arrival and shared a warm hug with the peninsula’s top goalscorer of all time.
Messi also presented an Argentina jersey to Chhetri and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, who felicitated the World Cup winner and his teammates, Suarez and De Paul, after his lap around the ground.
In the highlight of the day, the best footballer of all time and the greatest batsman shared the stage in a picturesque moment at the fabled stadium in Mumbai.
