What was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for Indian football fans descended into chaos on Friday, as Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium ended in confusion and disappointment. Messi’s planned lap of honour was cut short after serious crowd-control issues erupted inside the venue.
What went wrong?
A security breach forced officials to tighten the protective cordon around the World Cup winner, surrounding him with a thick ring of guards and entourage members. While the move was taken to ensure his safety, it left thousands of fans in the stands with little more than a fleeting glimpse of the superstar they had waited hours to see.
The football icon returned to India after 14 years as part of his ‘GOAT India Tour 2025′, a visit facilitated by Satadru Dutta. However, Dutta was taken into police custody for questioning, a development confirmed by ADG (Law & Order) Jawed Shamim.
Who is Satadru Dutta?
Satadru Dutta, a native of Rishra in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, is a well-known name in sports promotion, event management, and philanthropy. He began his professional journey in finance and investment before shifting focus to his passion for sports. Over the years, Dutta has played a key role in bringing global football greats such as Pele, Diego Maradona, and Cafu to India, helping bridge the gap between Indian fans and international sporting icons.
Through his organisation, Dutta is involved in sports marketing, celebrity management, and various social initiatives. The idea behind inviting Lionel Messi to India was to honour one of football’s greatest careers and give Indian fans a rare chance to experience the Argentine superstar up close.
However, despite the ambitious and well-intentioned effort, the events at Salt Lake Stadium have sparked serious questions about crowd control and large-scale event management.
As investigations and reviews are expected to follow, the occasion that was meant to be a celebration is now likely to be remembered for the chaos that overshadowed the presence of one of football’s most revered figures.
Messi’s tour ahead
Messi will head to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (Uppal) for a 7:30 pm exhibition match between Singareni RR-9 (led by CM Revanth Reddy) and Aparna Messi All Stars, where he will play the final 5-10 minutes. A GOAT Cup penalty shootout at 7:50 pm and 8 pm football clinic with Suárez and De Paul for youth will follow.
He will then head to Mumbai where events at Wankhede Stadium or similar venue include a Padel Cup, celebrity football with Bollywood stars, and philanthropy activities are lined up.
On December 15, Messi will arrive in Delhi and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will attend a 1:30 pm event at Arun Jaitley Stadium to felicitate Minerva Academy players.