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Journalism of Courage
Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated India tour took an unexpected turn as angry fans created a ruckus after failing to catch a glimpse of the football icon at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. However, poor crowd management reportedly led to confusion and unrest, with the situation quickly spiralling out of control.
Viral videos showed fans throwing bottles and vandalising parts of the stadium after Messi made only a brief appearance. What was meant to be a memorable moment for fans and India instead became a stressful event, drawing widespread criticism on social media.
He further questioned the crowd’s behaviour, adding, “It looks like he actually went to the mass in the Salt Lake Stadium, as everybody just looks at all of these Messis. You don’t see one Ronaldo jersey. Did he have a game? Soak it in for a few moments. I think just the fact that they have seen the great man, the icon, Leo Messi.”
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The video sparked numerous reactions. “From GOAT to “get outta here” real quick. Messi’s day in India,” an X user wrote. Another user wrote, “Speed went very fast, and he misunderstood the situation. All the booing occurred after he left. It was directed at the organizers for not delivering on the plan, leaving people without value for the money they paid.”
“Even as a Ronaldo fan, I find it disturbing that the whole stadium booed Messi…. It’s disappointing to the player,” a third user reacted.
