As we come to terms with what was a disgrace yesterday, some questions need to be asked. Was there an SOP or a written protocol regarding who would be allowed on to the pitch? Was it followed? Did the organisers try to implement it, and if not, why?
Why were there more than 200 people surrounding Lionel Messi every second when he was on the pitch? Why were the fans, who were all in the stands to watch Messi, not allowed to even have a glimpse of their hero? Who were these people, and how did they get there without proper accreditation?
And yes, I will say this for the men and women of my profession as well. There were two host broadcasters – Sony and Doordarshan. The feed was given to 26 other channels. And yet, there were dozens of so-called journalists on the turf, running around and following Messi. Who allowed them inside, and why? How did they get there, and do they not have the common sense to know that these things aren’t allowed? Would you dare get inside Eden Gardens during a World Cup or an IPL game? Would you do such things during a Coldplay concert and get away with it? Why can’t we, men and women in the media, be more sensible?
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What was meant to be a celebration turned ugly.
Lionel Messi event in Kolkata ends in chaos as fans protest, chairs are broken, and tempers flare on the pitch.#LionelMessi #goattour @Rahul_01Giri @debasissen @RohanDC98 pic.twitter.com/vWf21ctDED— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) December 13, 2025
While the organisers are absolutely to blame, the responsibility is a collective one. Politicians, film actors, and the media – who were all on the pitch enjoying their moment – are equally responsible for this national disgrace.
Why does this happen with us? Why do we lack civic sense? Why is it that there aren’t any protocols and it is all jugaad? Why should it be like this when we have the Chinnaswamy Stadium example before us? Who allowed water bottles inside the stadium when it is an established protocol at Eden Gardens, for example, that no plastic bottles are allowed?
It was a major opportunity lost for Kolkata and for Bengal. Messi is a global superstar, and it was a chance to showcase Kolkata and its love for sport in front of the world. Instead, we made sure that we showed ourselves as incapable of holding even a basic event. Hundreds entered the ground, and we just don’t know how or why. Was there no security to stop them?
As part of the sports fraternity, I feel as ashamed and as responsible. It is a failure of each one of us – my own people, my own fraternity, and my own ilk. We don’t have the sense to stand up for our own self-respect.
Suppose the event goes smoothly in Mumbai and Delhi – what does that say about Kolkata? How will that reflect on us all? How will we counter the narrative that we are incapable in this city? As for the organisers, the most basic step was to give the event to a reputed event management company. If the IPL can happen, if a Coldplay concert can be held, so can a Messi event. For whatever reason, professional fundamentals were ignored, and today we stand to pay a very heavy price.
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