Thousands of fans who came to see their star Lionel Messi, who kicked off a rare promotional tour in India, rioted at a stadium in Kolkata (eastern part of the country) after the Argentine star left.
During his visit, which continues until Monday, the 38-year-old player was warmly welcomed upon his morning arrival in West Bengal state by enthusiastic fans who chanted his name.
A few hours later, thousands of supporters wearing Messi jerseys gathered at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, but they became frustrated due to tight security measures that made it nearly impossible to see the player up close.
According to local media, the 2022 World Cup winner in Qatar made a quick lap around the pitch to greet the crowd before leaving immediately, although he was scheduled to play for a few minutes. This sparked anger among fans, many of whom paid over $100, equivalent to a "month's salary" for some, and they began throwing broken seats and water bottles onto the field before storming the pitch.
Before his arrival at Salt Lake Stadium, a giant statue of Messi (21 meters tall) holding the World Cup was unveiled in the city.
The Argentine star is scheduled to continue his tour in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.
