Messi’s tour of India begins with fans throwing bottles, stadium vandalised

Argentina football icon Lionel Messi is on a three-day GOAT tour of India before the 2026 defence of FIFA World Cup.Published On 13 Dec 2025Lionel Messi’s much-hyped tour of India got off to a rocky start on Saturday with angry fans throwing bottles and attempting to vandalise a stadium after many of them failed to get more than just a glimpse of their hero.The Times of India reported that many ticket holders said they failed to see Messi at all – either in person or on the stadium’s big screens – despite waiting for hours.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Elite cheats slip through net as athletics anti-doping system has ‘stalled’list 2 of 4Ongoing Taliban-Olympic talks hope to prompt Afghan women’s rights U-turnlist 3 of 4Olympic ski champion Michelle Gisin airlifted after Swiss crashlist 4 of 4Olympics decision on gender eligibility to come in early 2026end of listFans threw objects, ripped up seats and invaded the pitch after Messi’s scheduled 45-minute visit lasted just 20 minutes. Tickets for the event were priced from about 3,500 rupees ($38.65) – more than half of the average weekly income in India – but one fan said he had paid $130.Satadru Dutta, the event’s chief organiser, has been arrested, said Rajeev Kumar, director general of West Bengal police.“We’ve already detained the main organiser,” Rajeev Kumar told reporters. “We’re taking action so that this mismanagement does not go unpunished.“He has already pledged in writing that tickets sold for the event should be refunded,” he added.The organisers of the tour did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.Police officials speak to spectators as they throw debris onto the field at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) stadium during the Lionel Messi GOAT tour [Ayush Kumar/Getty Images]West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised to the Argentinian football star for the “mismanagement” of the event.“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium,” Banerjee wrote on social media, where she also apologised to fans who had expected more after paying for tickets.