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read also: Messi’s Kolkata Visit Ends in Chaos as Fans Breach Security at Salt Lake Stadium
Following his arrival, Messi headed to the Taj Hotel in Colaba for a short rest before proceeding to the Cricket Club of India’s Brabourne Stadium.
There, he is scheduled to attend a Padel GOAT Club event, which will be followed by a celebrity football match later in the afternoon.
Messi, who is accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, is expected to reach the iconic Wankhede Stadium around 5 pm for the main highlight of the Mumbai leg of the tour.
Fans have been gathering in large numbers, hoping to catch a glimpse of the football icon.
In view of the anticipated crowd, Mumbai Police have enforced stringent security measures at both venues. Restrictions have been imposed on carrying water bottles, metal items and coins inside the stadiums, while watchtowers have been installed to closely monitor crowd movement.
More than 2,000 police personnel have been deployed in and around Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums to ensure smooth conduct of the events.
A senior police official said,
“The arrangements were strengthened after the disruption witnessed during the Kolkata leg of the tour.”
The official said,
“Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach reported there, we have put in place World Cup-level security arrangements in Mumbai.”
Messi had arrived in India in the early hours of Saturday, but his Kolkata appearance later that day was marred by overcrowding and poor crowd management. In contrast, the Hyderabad leg of the tour went off smoothly, offering a reassuring experience for fans and organisers alike.
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Trinamool Congress spokesperson and state general secretary Kunal Ghosh demanded immediate action against the organisers, blaming their “overzealousness” and the presence of people crowding Messi to take selfies. He said this deprived spectators seated in the galleries of a clear view, leading to widespread frustration and anger.
Questioning the planning behind the event, Ghosh said the chaos forced Messi to leave the stadium prematurely and also prevented West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from attending the programme and formally welcoming him on behalf of the state. Calling the episode a major disappointment for sports lovers, he recalled Messi’s 2011 visit to Kolkata, saying the earlier event was well-organised and showcased the city in a positive light.
The Bharatiya Janata Party blamed the state government for the mess. BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya alleged that “fraudsters driven by greed” created the situation to make money. He accused Trinamool Congress leaders of backing self-promoting organisers who deprived genuine ticket holders of a proper glimpse of the football icon, thereby damaging the image of the state.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar also criticised the Trinamool Congress and the state administration, holding them responsible for the breakdown of law and order during the high-profile event.
Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, launched a scathing attack on the government, alleging that ministers and leaders “clung to Messi like leeches” while fans who spent thousands of rupees were left watching the footballer briefly on giant screens. In a post on X, Adhikari accused Sports Minister Arup Biswas, Fire Minister Sujit Basu and the organisers of turning the programme into a money-making exercise. He demanded a full refund for gallery ticket holders, the arrest of those responsible and the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging the incident embarrassed West Bengal globally.
The Congress also joined the criticism. West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar described the episode as a case of terrible mismanagement and a mockery of law and order. He alleged that tickets were sold at exorbitant prices in Messi’s name while the footballer was surrounded only by Trinamool Congress leaders and their family members. Sarkar further claimed that crores of public money were spent for photo opportunities, calling it a new-age scam, and demanded accountability from the organisers, ministers, police officials and the local MLA.
Congress spokesperson Suman Roy Chaudhuri echoed similar concerns, questioning the role of the police administration and demanding legal action. He alleged that the incident exposed what he termed the commercial face of the government.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also criticised the handling of the event. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty termed the mismanagement a “black day” for West Bengal, blaming the Trinamool Congress government for failure of law and order. Drawing a comparison with the visits of football legend Diego Maradona during the Left Front regime, he alleged that profit-making took precedence over spectator safety and experience during Messi’s visit.
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]]>read also: Messi Kolkata Event Chaos: Organiser Arrested After Fan Unrest at Salt Lake Stadium
The disorder broke out during Argentine football star Lionel Messi’s G.O.A.T India Tour 2025, when frustrated spectators entered the field and vandalised parts of the stadium, accusing the organisers of poor crowd and event management. Thousands of fans had gathered at the venue hoping to catch a glimpse of the football icon.
Banerjee said she was on her way to the Salt Lake Stadium to attend the programme, when the incident occurred. In a post on social media platform X, the chief minister issued a public apology to Messiand his supporters.
She said the unfortunate episode had caused embarrassment and distress to sports lovers across the state.
“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports enthusiasts and his fans, for what happened”, Banerjee wrote.
Announcing the enquiry, Banerjee said a committee would be set up under the chairmanship of retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray. The panel will include the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs Department as members.
According to the chief minister, the committee will carry out a comprehensive investigation into the events that led to the chaos, identify those responsible, and recommend corrective steps to ensure such incidents are not repeated in the future.
Reiterating her regret, Banerjee once again extended her apologies to sports lovers and fans affected by the disruption.
Messi’s brief visit to Kolkata ended in turmoil after angry fans breached security arrangements, when they failed to get a clear view of the football superstar during his fleeting 22-minute appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium earlier in the day.
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]]>read also: Messi Event Chaos in Kolkata Draws Fire from Both TMC and BJP
Messi’s much-publicised India tour ran into controversy at its very first stop in Kolkata, where crowd unrest forced police intervention and brought the event organisers under intense scrutiny.
The GOAT India Tour 2025, promoted by Satadru Dutta under the banner A Satadru Dutta Initiative, began with massive fan enthusiasm but, quickly descended into disorder at the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Krirangan.
As tensions flared inside the stadium, West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar addressed the media, stating that law and order had been restored. He acknowledged that fans were upset after expecting Messi to either play or spend more time on the field. Kumar clarified that the event plan only involved Messi briefly appearing, greeting the crowd, meeting select guests, and leaving.
The DGP confirmed that the state government had constituted a committee to examine all aspects of the incident, including possible lapses by the organisers. He added that the organisers had given written assurances that refunds would be issued to ticket holders who were dissatisfied with the event. The main organiser was detained as part of the inquiry.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Javed Shamim later said a formal investigation had been initiated. He noted that responsibility had not yet been fixed and that accountability would be determined once the probe was completed. Shamim also confirmed that the situation in and around the stadium had returned to normal.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as Messi’s planned lap around the stadium failed to materialise. Soon after he entered the field, the footballer was surrounded by politicians, officials, celebrities, their family members, and photographers. The heavy crowding around Messi prompted his security team to abandon the lap, severely limiting his interaction with fans seated in the galleries.
Kolkata marked the opening leg of Messi’s three-day India tour, which is scheduled to continue in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. While authorities insist that calm has been restored, the troubled start has shifted attention from celebration to accountability, with organisers facing serious questions and fans awaiting the promised ticket refunds.
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