'We want our money back': Rs 12,000 ticket for glimpse of Lionel Messi - Angry fans vandalise Salt Lake Stadium

NEW DELHI: What began as a moment of celebration during Lionel Messi's Kolkata leg of the GOAT Tour turned into chaos on Saturday as fans expressed their disappointment when the Argentine legend left the Salt Lake Stadium much earlier than planned, leaving the crowd furious.



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Many spectators who paid hefty amounts to catch a glimpse of Messi began throwing water bottles and chairs from the stands. The angry crowd also entered the ground, attempting to vandalise tents and the goalpost.




An angry fan said: "Seeing the utter chaos, the management, the authorities, it was absolutely rubbish. All the people you see here love football. We all wanted to see Messi, but it was a total scam. We want our money back... The management was so bad. It is a black day for Kolkata. Kolkata is known for football, and we love football, we love Argentina, but this experience is absolutely a scam. The ministers were there with their children, and the other people could not see anything... We are very hurt."


Another fan said, "Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn't see anything. He didn't take a single kick or a single penalty. He came for 10 minutes and left. So much money, emotions, and time wasted. We couldn't see anything."


A fan of Messi added, "It is very disappointing that after paying such a hefty amount. They had 50 people around him, and we could not even get a glimpse of him for once... He just waved a couple of times, and that's it."


Another fan said: "We have given so much money for this event and the most important thing is that Messi has come for this event and what message we have given to him... The sports minister is clicking a picture with Messi, and everyone is trying to manage the people... I don't know about Shah Rukh Khan, whether he came or not... It is very shameful for the event management and the government as well."


"It was really disappointing, we came all the way from Darjeeling for this... We couldn't even see him properly, and that was the most disappointing thing I have ever witnessed," a fan said.


A fan of Messi said, "We are very disappointed... My child was very excited to see Messi... I think it's a scam for the people. When Messi arrived, everyone surrounded him."


"Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi...Why did they call us then... We have got a ticket for 12 thousand, but we were not even able to see his face," an angry fan said.


"The minimum price of the ticket was 5 thousand, and why were the VVIPs around Messi? We couldn't even see him... Why weren't the police taking action? I don't know anything. Everyone was furious... We want the refund," another fan added.


Earlier, Messi virtually inaugurated a 70-foot-tall statue of himself at Lake Town in Kolkata on Saturday, along with West Bengal Minister and Sree Bhumi Sporting Club President Sujit Bose.


The Sree Bhumi Sporting Club has completed the construction of a massive 70-foot iron statue at Lake Town in South Dum Dum, Kolkata, depicting Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy. The statue will be virtually unveiled by Messi himself, adding to the excitement for his fans.



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