GOAT Tour: prime organiser of Lionel Messi event in Kolkata detained

WEB DESK: Chaos erupted at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday as thousands of fans protested after failing to get a clear view of football superstar Lionel Messi during his highly anticipated GOAT Tour event, prompting police to baton-charge the crowd. Following the disruption, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued an apology to Messi and his fans and ordered a high-level enquiry into the mismanagement. Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar confirmed that the prime organiser of the event had been detained over the mishandling.

Earlier in the day, Messi virtually unveiled a towering 70-foot statue of himself at Lake Town, Kolkata. The ceremony, hosted by West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose at the Hyatt Regency, celebrated the Argentine star’s career, depicting him holding the FIFA World Cup trophy. Messi addressed fans in Spanish with a heartfelt “Muchas Gracias,” expressing his gratitude for the overwhelming support.

The Salt Lake Stadium event, which included a planned coaching clinic for children from districts across West Bengal, was cut short due to crowd unrest. Fans, eager for a glimpse of the football legend, became frustrated, forcing security intervention.

Adding a Bollywood twist to the day, Shah Rukh Khan joined Messi at the statue unveiling. The superstar warmly greeted Messi and had the footballer sign an autograph for his son, Abram. Messi’s Argentina teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul were also present, interacting with fans and taking part in the celebration.

Despite the disruption at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata witnessed a memorable tribute to Messi, combining sports, culture, and celebrity, while also highlighting the challenges of managing large-scale fan events.