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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Arpan Rai

Inside the chaos at Kolkata stop of Messi’s India tour as angry fans rip up seats: ‘We have been scammed’

Lionel Messi Kolkata India Mamata Banerjee Football IndiGo Police

Hours after the Kolkata stop of Lionel Messi's India tour descended into mayhem as angry fans ripped up seats and invaded the field, police in the eastern Indian city stopped the organiser of the event from flying out amid allegations of mismanagement.

Messi’s GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) India Tour 2025 kicked off amid chaos on 13 December as fans at the Salt Lake stadium in the capital of the eastern state of West Bengal threw objects onto the field and dismantled canopies, angry at the brief appearance by the Argentina footballer at the ticketed event.

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