Stampede at Messi event in India! PM apologizes
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who continues his career at MLS team Inter Miami, made an eventful start in India, where he traveled with teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul for a series of events.
Lionel Messi, who traveled to India as part of an event tour called the "GOAT Tour" and ended the season with Inter Miami as champions, had a chaotic first day.
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STATUE UNVEILING AND STADIUM VISIT
Messi, who unveiled a statue of himself on the first day of his India tour, was scheduled to teach young footballers, participate in a padel tournament, concerts and other events in Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
However, the Argentine star was joined by teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul at the stadium event, where there was a huge stampede. Tensions escalated after Messi stayed briefly at the event and left the stadium.
THEY THREW THE SEATS ON THE FIELD
Fans who waited for hours and couldn't see Messi up close despite buying tickets turned their disappointment into anger. The crowd reacted by throwing bottles onto the pitch and damaging the stands of the stadium.
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After Messi left the stadium, events escalated further, with fans ripping up seats and throwing them onto the pitch and many people entering the pitch.
PRIME MINISTER APOLOGIZES
Following these ugly incidents, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a statement on her social media account, apologized to Lionel Messi and announced that an investigation into the incident has been launched.
"I am extremely disturbed and shocked by the unfortunate events that took place at the Salt Lake stadium today. I sincerely apologize to Lionel Messi, all sports lovers and fans for this unfortunate incident. I am setting up a commission of inquiry, which will conduct a detailed investigation into the incident, identify those responsible and take necessary measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future," Banerjee said.
