Kolkata

Scenes of unrest unfolded at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday after spectators, many of whom had paid premium prices for tickets, protested their inability to see football superstar Lionel Messi during his brief appearance.

The Argentine great reached the Salt Lake Stadium at around 11.30 am, accompanied by former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez and fellow Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul. Messi was the first among the guests to step onto the field, walking around briefly and acknowledging the crowd with a wave.

However, fans soon grew disappointed as he remained closely encircled by organisers, VIP guests and security officials, which obstructed the view from most parts of the stands. Several spectators complained that they could not get a proper look at him, either in person or through the stadium’s large display screens, despite having waited for hours.

As frustration spread, chants of “We want Messi” rang out across the galleries. The situation worsened when the football icon was escorted out of the venue within minutes, even before some invited guests had arrived.

Angered by the abrupt exit, sections of the crowd began throwing water bottles onto the field and vandalising banners, hoardings and plastic seating in the stands. According to eyewitnesses, some fans also attempted to break through barricades and rush onto the pitch, prompting police to step in to control the situation.

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While authorities managed to prevent the unrest from escalating further by removing Messi early and reinforcing security, the disturbances dampened what was intended to be a celebratory event honouring one of the sport’s most celebrated figures.