Lionel Messi's India tour kicks off with chaotic scenes

Bangkok Post Group

Fans of Lionel Messi vandalized a stadium on Saturday after a brief visit by the Argentine soccer star that one ticket holder decried as a waste of people's "time, money and emotions". - REUTERS

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00:01Lionel Messi's tour of India kicked off chaotically on Saturday, with disgruntled fans ripping up seats,

00:07throwing objects and invading the pitch at a stadium in Kolkata.

00:12The Argentine soccer star is scheduled to attend concerts and sports events

00:16and launch charitable initiatives across the country.

00:19But his appearance at Salt Lake Stadium lasted just 20 minutes, according to Indian media.

00:25Tickets were priced from a little under $40, more than half their average weekly income in India.

00:32But this fan says he paid $130.

00:37But with so many politicians crowded around Messi, we did not even get to see his face.

00:46Another fan described it as fraud, saying people's time, money and emotions had been wasted.

00:55Organisers of the Inter-Miami Forward's GOAT, or Greatest of All Time Tour,

01:01did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

01:04The Chief Minister of West Bengal State apologised to Messi and ordered a probe into the incident.

01:10West Bengal, Kerala and Goa states have long had large soccer followings in otherwise cricket-crazed India.

01:17On Saturday, Messi also virtually attended the unveiling of a 20-metre statue of himself,

01:23saying that he was very pleased with the support he received from the people of Kolkata.

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