They paid dearly to see Messi live, and they didn't even see him on the telebs – Lionel Messi's Indian “tournee” began in an atmosphere of scandal and bitterness of disappointed fans.
As reported by The Times of India, thousands of fans gathered at Salt Lake Stadium in Calcutta, despite waiting for hours and costly tickets, did not see Messi either live or on television. The 45-minute visit was reduced to 20 minutes, which caused the spell of bitterness. The prices of admissions – up to $130 – for many meant expenditure exceeding weekly earnings.
Frustrated fans threw chairs and stormed the turf. safety rushed the Argentine out of the field.
West Bengal police detained the main organizer of the event, who committed to returning the money. The Indian Football Federation distanced itself from the event, stressing that it was a private initiative.
