Former India captain Sourav Ganguly and chief organiser Satadru Dutta had requested Lionel Messi to stay back at the Salt Lake Stadium for a little longer. However, Messi’s team turned down all such requests after sensing a possible security threat during the opening of the GOAT Tour in Kolkata on Saturday, December 13, an ABP Ananda report said.
“It was heard that despite Sourav’s request, Messi decided to leave the field. It was also heard that entrepreneur Satdru Dutta also requested Messi. Some of the administration were also present at that time. But Messi’s team did not agree to take the risk, considering the law and order situation,” the report claimed.
Despite Sourav Ganguly’s request, Lionel Messi chose to leave the field, the report said. It was also claimed that organiser Shatadru Dutta had asked Messi to stay back. Several officials from the administration were present at the venue, but Messi’s team was not willing to take any chances given the law-and-order situation.
Earlier on Saturday morning, the Argentine football icon spent around 20 minutes on the field, surrounded by ministers, VIPs and aides, leaving spectators with very little chance to get a clear view of him.
Celebrations turn chaotic at Salt Lake Stadium
What was supposed to be a celebratory event around Lionel Messi turned chaotic at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday. The situation worsened when spectators, frustrated at not seeing the football star, began vandalising parts of the stadium.
Fans alleged poor planning by the organisers and said their view was blocked by VIPs and security personnel. Around 50,000 spectators, many of whom paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000 for tickets – and in some cases up to Rs 20,000 in the black market – were left disappointed as politicians, VVIPs and security staff formed a human shield around Messi.
Public anger erupts after Messi leaves early
Trouble erupted soon after Messi left the venue much earlier than scheduled. Angry spectators uprooted plastic chairs, threw bottles onto the pitch and tried to break through barricades.
Some people, including police personnel, were injured in the unrest, though no deaths were reported, according to news agency PTI. Police later arrested the event’s main organiser, Satadru Datta, while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a high-level inquiry into the incident.
Messi’s much-publicised visit to the Salt Lake Stadium lasted just 22 minutes. This was his second visit to Kolkata as part of a four-city India tour, with Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi scheduled next.
The visit came at a time when Indian football is facing a low point, with the national team slipping to 142nd place in the latest FIFA rankings, its worst position since October 2016.
