The excitement that had drawn fans from across the country to the Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) to witness football superstar Lionel Messi ended in scenes of utter chaos, raising critical questions about crowd control and the administrative management of high-profile events in Kolkata. News18, present on the ground, got a first-hand account of the widespread disappointment and subsequent vandalism that marred the long-awaited visit.
From as early as 6 am, passionate supporters—including a couple who cancelled their honeymoon and a student from Maharashtra who skipped an examination—had thronged the area, having travelled from Nepal, Kerala, Maharashtra, and remote corners of West Bengal. The stadium gates opened at 7
am, requiring fans to wait for several hours for a glimpse of the Argentine legend.
The atmosphere peaked at around 11.30 am when Messi’s car entered the stadium, and the venue erupted in deafening chants of “Messi, Messi.” However, the elation quickly soured. The world witnessed Messi being surrounded by a large group of influential individuals, organisers, and security personnel the moment he stepped onto the field. Most spectators in the galleries were unable to get a clear, unencumbered view of their idol, forced instead to rely solely on the giant screens.
The frustration became palpable. Chants of “We want to see Messi” soon replaced cheers, and despite repeated public address announcements requesting people to clear the playing area, the throng on the field—allegedly including senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress—did not budge. For nearly 20 critical minutes, spectators in the galleries were unable to get the view they had paid handsomely for.
At approximately 11.50 am, Messi was escorted out of the venue, cutting his appearance tragically short. Following his departure, sections of the disappointed crowd turned angry. Vandalism immediately broke out, starting with water bottles and chairs being thrown, followed by large numbers of people jumping down from the galleries and entering the ground. The chaos and subsequent vandalism continued for nearly 40 minutes, during which the limited police presence was completely overwhelmed, highlighting serious lapses in security planning.
The police later arrested event organiser Satadru Dutta in connection with the mismanagement. The incident has resulted in significant embarrassment for the city, fueling severe public criticism and political backlash, and leaving several key questions unanswered:
- Why was there inadequate police deployment for an event of this magnitude, and why was the initial security breach on the field not prevented?
- Why were so many unauthorised personnel, including political figures, allowed onto the main playing area to crowd the star?
- Why was no separate stage or elevated vehicle arranged to ensure clear visibility of Messi for the thousands of ticketed spectators?
- Why was the administration unable to control the angry crowd for an extended period after the disruption began?
Allegations that political influence prevented common spectators from getting a clear view of Messi, thereby triggering the public backlash, have brought the focus squarely onto the ruling Trinamool Congress, further intensifying concerns over the handling of law and order and VIP culture at public events.
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