Chaotic Welcome: Lionel Messi's Rocky Start in India

Lionel Messi's visit to India began amid chaos as fans at Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium reacted angrily to his brief appearance. The event mismanagement led to the detention of the chief organizer, while the West Bengal Chief Minister apologized and ordered a probe to address the mishandling.

Lionel Messi's much-anticipated tour of India started on a tumultuous note as fans at Kolkata's Salt Lake stadium reacted with anger to his fleeting appearance during a ticketed event on Saturday.

The chaos prompted West Bengal police to detain the event's chief organizer, Satadru Dutta, while fans expressed frustration over the mismanagement that led to Messi's brief, 20-minute presence. The tickets were sold at significant prices, causing further agitation among attendees.

West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, expressed her sincere apologies to Messi, ordering an investigation into the event's management while promising to prevent future incidents. Kolkata, known for its fervent soccer fandom, has witnessed similar fervent events in the past.

(With inputs from agencies.)