Kolkata,India – Angry scenes erupted at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium as fans, disappointed by a brief and obscured appearance by football star Lionel Messi, ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch.
Thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to see the Argentina and Inter Miami forward, only to be left frustrated when his walk around the pitch was blocked from view by a large entourage of officials and celebrities.
The hostility began when Messi was swiftly escorted away by security after approximately 20 minutes. The events deeply disturbed West Bengal’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, who said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the crowd’s reaction.
Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, boasts a significant football fanbase, with huge crowds common at local club derbies. The passion for the sport was evident in the early hours of Saturday, as thousands lined the roads outside Messi’s hotel hoping to catch a glimpse.
