‘Waste of time & money’: How VIPs hijacked Messi event in Kolkata, leaving fans fuming

Many paid much more, ranging from the highest ticket of Rs 12,000 to about Rs 3 lakh in black. Once the fans realised that Messi wouldn’t even kick the ball anywhere close to them, all hell broke loose. It started with boos, followed by water bottles flying on the turf and bucket seats stripped from the concrete hauled over the fence.

Booing escalated into chaos as water bottles rained down and bucket seats were ripped out and hurled onto the turf. ((Express Photo: Partha Paul)

The sudden commotion caught the stadium security and police personnel off guard. As the word spread that Messi had left the stadium within 22 minutes of his grand entry, the crowd took over the playing arena. Irate fans ran amok, the goalpost of the ground dismantled, the netting cut into pieces, prompting a lathi charge from the police.

“I am taking this piece of net home, a reminder of the day when Messi came to Kolkata, but we couldn’t get his autograph, his selfie, or even see him. Had to take some memento,” said a fan, who identified himself only as “Sonu from Goa”. Not everyone had got closure; a few would take down the dugouts with canopies next to the football field. There was even an attempt to set them on fire. The hoardings of sponsors were ripped apart, and turf was damaged.

Though in retrospect, the signs of an ill-prepared administration were there, no one could have predicted such an anti-climax when the world’s greatest living footballer landed at the stadium at around 11.30 am. When he entered, loud chants of ‘Messi, Messi’ brought the roof down. It was a goosebumps moment, Salt Lake had turned into Rosario.

Earlier, the much-hyped unveiling of Messi’s 70-foot statue fizzled out, with the star inaugurating it virtually from his hotel amid chaotic scenes. (Express Photo: Partha Paul)

The fans had waited patiently when Messi, with his two mates from US club Inter Miami – Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul – was surrounded by the dignitaries. Bengal’s Sports and Youth Affairs minister Aroop Biswas would pose with him for pictures. Mohun Bagan’s president, Debasis Dutta, and secretary, Srinjoy Bose, would present him their club’s famous maroon-green jersey. Biswas did not respond to calls and messages seeking a comment on the debacle.

The man in the spotlight, organiser Satadru Dutta, who by the end of the day would get arrested, was having a tough time keeping other special guests away from Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain. There were a few private security personnel shielding the players, but they were easily outnumbered by those wanting to get close to him. Hidden behind many layers of special guests, officials, and organisers was Messi.

Earlier in the day, the much-hyped unveiling of Messi’s 70-foot statue had proved to be a non-event for the fans. The golden-tinged iron sculpture was inaugurated by Messi virtually from the hotel where he was staying. Visuals from that event, too, were chaotic. A bemused Messi looked around cluelessly as Shah Rukh Khan walked to him to shake hands. The Bollywood star’s son would get a chance to get a picture with him.

Even at Salt Lake, it was a celebrity meet and greet. On the fringe of the Messi bubble stood kids in football gear.  There was to be a Messi master class, but that never happened.  Nothing went as planned.

To be sure, there were enough hints that the administration was far from ready, especially for an event that was also supposed to host Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly. Both would eventually skip as Messi had to be escorted out prematurely.

The chaos seemed to catch police off guard, with personnel seen shielding themselves with chairs as deployment remained focused around Messi instead of the stands. (Express Photo: Partha Paul)

According to officials and eyewitnesses, two tents set up on the field, where Messi and other footballers waited alongside politicians, further obscured the view for fans, adding to their anger.

“I have been coming to Salt Lake Stadium for the past 30 years, but never have I seen such lawlessness,” said Pradip Das, 55, who bought a ticket for Rs 5,500.

Plus, while food and water couldn’t be taken inside the stadium, it was being sold inside at a premium, with a bottle of water priced at Rs 150, fans said. Once fans realised the event had ended, it was these same bottles that became weapons to be flung at policemen and politicians on the field.

The chaos also appeared to have caught the police off guard. Many personnel could be seen trying to shield themselves using chairs. According to an official, most personnel were concentrated around Messi when they should have been posted in the stands.

“In an event where Messi and the CM are attending, SOP demands that each block is manned by an officer not below the rank of DCP, apart from assistant commissioners, inspectors and constables,” said a senior officer of the Bengal police. “There were supposed to be multiple layers of security starting from the gate to the galleries and the field.”

“There was no clear emergency plan. There were fewer volunteers than needed, dignitaries did not have a clear plan to follow, and Messi was allowed on the field too early,” said an officer from the Bidhannagar police commissionerate.

In the early hours of Saturday, when Messi had landed in Kolkata, the organiser Dutta put out a social media post that said: “Done it.” By noon, it was all undone.