Published on: Dec 13, 2025 02:25 pm IST
So what went wrong? The clearest explanation is not one single trigger, but a stack of operational pressure points that collided at the worst possible time.
A perfect storm of expectations, access and crowd management
1) A marquee event built around a brief appearance
Messi’s on-field time was relatively short — a walkaround, waves, and quick acknowledgements. In a venue packed with people who came primarily for that “moment”, any delay, obstruction, or truncation makes the headline act feel smaller than the marketing implied.
2) The optics of a “ring” around the star
Multiple accounts describe Messi remaining tightly encircled by security and officials during his lap. In a stadium, visibility is everything. When the inner perimeter becomes crowded, it doesn’t just reduce sightlines — it changes the feel of the occasion from “public celebration” to “VIP corridor”.
3) Premium pricing raises the temperature
Ticket prices were positioned at the higher end for a one-off event. That matters because pricing doesn’t just sell entry; it sells an expectation of delivery. When the delivery feels constrained — even if the plan was always limited — dissatisfaction escalates faster.
4) A fragile event structure: long build-up, short payoff
The schedule reportedly blended an exhibition game with a special segment timed around Messi’s arrival. That kind of format is inherently brittle: if the timeline slips or in-stadium communication is unclear, the waiting tension climbs, then spills over the moment the “main act” feels compromised.
5) Venue control and screening gaps
The escalation — throwing objects, damage, and attempts to push past barriers — points to crowd-control systems being overwhelmed. It also raises basic questions about screening and what was allowed inside.
The aftermath quickly moved beyond sport: authorities announced an enquiry into “mismanagement”, reflecting the scale of the breakdown. In short, Kolkata didn’t witness a “fan problem” as much as an execution problem — a high-expectation event that couldn’t control its own dynamics once the pressure spiked.
