Chaos at Kolkata Stadium During Lionel Messi's India Tour Labeled as "Systemic Failure" by West Bengal Governor

Dec 13, 2025 10:59 pm CST

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose condemned the chaotic scenes at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium during football superstar Lionel Messi's brief appearance, calling it a "systemic failure" that humiliated both the state and sporting world. The incident saw angry fans storming the pitch when they couldn't properly see Messi, leading to vandalism and requiring riot control intervention. The event organizer was subsequently arrested as Messi continued his three-city India tour.