Football star Lionel Messi’s highly-anticipated visit to Kolkata, as part of the ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’, had promised to be a historic moment watched by thousands of fans at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13. The washout that it eventually became, as spectators went berserk over not getting a glimpse of the VIP-mobbed Messi, now serves as a cautionary tale on management of mega events in the country.
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What was meant to be a memorable showcase of one of the world’s greatest footballers in one of India’s most-passionate footballing cities descended into confusion and tumult, leaving fans angry, organisers in legal trouble and local authorities scrambling to explain what had gone wrong.
Messi arrived in Kolkata as part of a three-city tour of India, drawing huge crowds, who had paid significant sums—up to Rs 10,000 or more—for tickets
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