KOLKATA, India (AP) – Lionel Messi’s much-hyped tour of India got off to a rocky start Saturday with angry fans throwing bottles and attempting to destroy the stadium, many of whom were unable to get more than a glimpse of their hero.
The Times of India reported that many ticket holders said they were unable to see Messi in person or on the stadium’s large screens despite waiting for hours.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has apologized. argentina soccer star Regarding the “mismanagement” of the event.
“I am extremely upset and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed at Salt Lake Stadium today,” Banerjee wrote on social media, while also apologizing to fans who had paid for tickets and were expecting the event.
Banerjee said a committee would be formed to “conduct a detailed investigation into the incident, correct responsibility and recommend measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.”
Messi’s three-day ‘GOAT India Tour’ took the World Cup winner from Kolkata to Hyderabad to Mumbai and was scheduled to end in New Delhi on Monday. He was joined by long-time teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrygo de Paul.
Earlier on Saturday, Messi “unveiled” a 21-meter (70-foot) tall statue of himself in Kolkata by remote control.
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