Harrowing time for paying fans post Messi sudden exit
KOLKATA: All for a glimpse of Messi. For a Messi fan, its all that matters. As soon as I reached the gates of the Salt Lake Stadium at 8.30 am, fatigue from overnight journey just disappeared. The stadium was draped in Argentina colours, with people in jerseys with Messi written on their backs. There were giant cutouts and paintings of him as well. Fans from across the country were there. My ticket allowed me to one part of the stands. More than 60,000 fans would have gathered inside by 10.30 am. There was a cultural programme highlighting India and Argentina, followed by a friendly football match between Diamond Harbour Club and Mohun Bagan. Fans were kept engaged, but as soon as the announcer hollered in stadium PA system that Messi would be entering, at around 11.30 am, excitement quickly turned into a frenzy. Fans began climbing the barriers placed in front of the stands to catch a glimpse of the World Cup winner. As Messi entered the stadium in a car, accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Surez, things started getting out of hand. Fans were delirious. However, the scenes turned chaotic after guests in the cordoned-off VVIP area crowded around Messi, blocking his view. The event organiser was heard repeatedly urging them to step aside. All of a sudden the situation went out of control and Messi and his entourage were escorted out of the stadium. We in the crowd did not know what was happening. Word spread that Messi had left. This sparked anger. Bottles were hurled onto the field, banners were violently torn down, and the situation deteriorated. Fans began breaking chairs and throwing them in the stadium. Several people breached barricades and entered the ground. Makeshift tents were overturned, chairs smashed.Even the goalpost was damaged. Eventually, exhausted and disillusioned, fans began leaving the stadium. Shah Rukh Khan and Sourav Ganguly who were part of the event cancelled their appearances.
24 C
