Utter mismanagement led to unwanted chaos at the recently organized G.O. A.T. India Tour 2025 in Kolkata.

This tour is part of the multi-city visit of world-famous footballers Lionel Messi, Rodrigo Javier De Paul, and Luis Suarez.

The event began on a happy and promising note, with football lovers from all around the state who came to witness Lionel Messi.

When Messi entered the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, the chants of Messi, Messi filled the stadium.

Messi entered in style in a luxury car along with Rodrigo Javier De Paul and Luis Suarez.

However, the joy of the fans was short-lived as they could hardly catch a glimpse of their football star.

A group of about seventy to eighty people, including so-called VIPs, all gathered around the players, all eager to get a selfie with the player.

Among them was TMC MLA Aroop Biswas, who was overenthusiastic to click pictures with Messi.

Messi, who was enthusiastic to meet with his fans, later became irritated as this group of people stopped him from meeting with his actual fans.

Security issues became a glaring problem, and hence Messi left the ground without even getting a chance to properly interact with his fans or follow the event flow planned for his visit.

After Messi left the ground, the crowd started to throw water bottles and chairs, and even empty food packets, showing their anger and frustration.

Though many might highlight that destroying public property is not the right thing to do as a responsible citizen, their behaviour cannot be completely said to be wrong or disgraceful.

The fans came from far and wide just to catch a glimpse of their football star. But alas, that did not happen. Many even cancelled their important plans or borrowed money to buy a ticket.

And all they could see were a bunch of so-called VIPs who took advantage of their connections and sources to destroy this moment.

Though the main organizer of this event, Satadru Dutta, has been arrested, questions remain unanswered.

• Why were so many people on the ground?
• Why were the so-called VIPs granted time for their selfies?
• What was the police personnel doing when so many people came to the ground?

These questions may or may not be answered. But with the sad state of things that happened, it is unlikely that Messi or, for that matter, any other person of global stature will ever again come to Kolkata.

Priyanka Dutta