The GOAT Tour, starring football sensation Lionel Messi, reached Hyderabad this Saturday, bringing a wave of excitement to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. This visit occurred in the shadow of the controversy that marred his first Indian stop in Kolkata, where fans voiced strong dissatisfaction with his brief appearance and the high cost of tickets at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Messi touched down in Hyderabad in the afternoon, participating in various public engagements. He was photographed interacting with children, kicking a ball, and socializing with officials. Additionally, he met with prominent political figures, including Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
Within the Uppal Stadium, Messi took a seat in a VIP box, offering a wave to the assembled crowd and making a fleeting appearance on the stadium’s video screen while a match was in progress. The organizers seemed eager to demonstrate a smooth and enjoyable experience, a stark contrast to the events in Kolkata.
The aftermath of the Kolkata event saw legal repercussions, with reports confirming the arrest of one of the primary organizers of the GOAT Tour by Kolkata police. The arrest was attributed to alleged mismanagement at the Salt Lake Stadium venue.
Satadru Dutta, the central figure in organizing Messi’s Kolkata appearance, was taken into custody after the stadium witnessed chaos and damage. Protests erupted over ticket prices and the limited visibility of the football superstar. Authorities pledged a thorough investigation to identify and prosecute all responsible parties for the mismanagement that led to the public disturbance.
In Kolkata, the situation deteriorated as frustrated fans engaged in vandalism. Police were compelled to use crowd-control measures, including lathi charges and the deployment of the Rapid Action Force, to restore order. The security situation prompted Messi to leave the stadium earlier than originally planned.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, en route to the stadium at the time, ordered her driver to return upon learning of the unrest. She subsequently commissioned a judicial panel to investigate the mismanagement, headed by former Calcutta High Court Justice Ashim Kumar Ray, with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Additional Secretary Nandini Chakraborty as members. The Chief Minister publicly apologized for the incident.