In India, fans rioted at a stadium because of Lionel Messi (3 photos + 4 videos)
Fans wanted their idol to kick the ball around on the field, but he merely waved and disappeared into the tunnel. 
Indian fans rioted at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata over the brief visit of their idol, Argentine footballer Lionel Messi. Fans expected the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner to play or perform a lap of honor, but he merely waved and posed for a souvenir photo.
Fuel was added to the fire by journalists, VIPs, sports officials, and their families, who swarmed around the celebrated footballer, preventing ordinary people from even getting a good look at their idol, whose arrival they had been anticipating for months.
"Fans who had waited months for their football idol to appear were disappointed when the Argentine's appearance on the field was abruptly interrupted, a situation exacerbated by the stadium's overcrowding and chaos," writes India Today.
The discontent of several thousand fans eventually erupted into mayhem. First, they threw bottles and chairs, then broke through security and poured onto the field in a torrent, destroying everything in their path.
Tickets reportedly started at 5,000 Indian rupees ($55/₽4,400) and ranged up to 9,000 rupees ($100/₽8,000). For some attendees, this represented a month's salary.
"A terribly organized event. Messi only showed up for 10 minutes. All the VIPs and ministers surrounded him. We didn't see anything. He didn't take a single kick. So much money, emotion, and time wasted," said one fan.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly later apologized to both Messi and the fans. She said an investigation would be conducted to determine who was responsible for the failed event. The organizer of the Messi-fan meet-and-greet has reportedly already been detained.
Messi has arrived in India for three days. As part of his commercial tour (GOAT), he will unveil a massive, 21.3-meter-tall monument in Kolkata. He will also visit Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. The celebrated footballer will be accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, with whom he previously won an MLS championship.
