The highly awaited linkage of the worldwide football icon, Lionel Messi, with a meeting of his fans in Kolkata has taken a dramatic turn as reports of unrest started surfacing on the online platforms of social media sites. What started with a fanfare arrangement for a celebration of India’s passionate football lovers, especially in a town that is known for being passionate about the game, has now been faced with serious questions.
Kolkata has been considered the hub of Indian football. The presence of huge followings of international clubs as well as individuals such as Messi has made him a close-to-legendary figure in Kolkata. The reporting of news/publicity that suggested his presence in India-related events has generated immense popularity. Thousands of people were said to have assembled with high hopes that they might get to see the “football icon” personally.
Despite this, it appears that the event did not go as expected, following reports from sources and footage on the internet that suggested that the presence of Argentine legend Lionel Messi did not go exactly as the fans might have liked. In what seemed to be a result of the frustration that erupted when the appearance either ended abruptly or failed to happen as the spectators had hoped, cases of people throwing furniture as well as bottles were reported.
Among the most significant factors that seem to have contributed to the incident is miscommunication. Although most people thought that Messi would somehow take part in a significant event, the event that ended up taking place was, in fact, merely a marketing event rather than a full-blown appearance or a game. It is a matter of perspective, but a lack of understanding in a town which has such deep-rooted passions for football is bound to result in an incident.
An additional element that played a part in this disarray is overcrowding. There are reports that the event site as well as the surroundings were saturated with too many people, more than what could be managed. This led to a lack of barricading, insufficient entrance and exit arrangements, as well as a lack of announcements that contributed to the confusion. When people started becoming irate, videos on social media run rampant with footage of the event’s disorder.
It is worth noting that, to date, there has been no official comment from Lionel Messi or his representatives specifically concerning this event. The accounts available on the matter thus far are largely attributed to observation from eyewitnesses, as well as footage on the Web. It has not been confirmed whether anyone has been injured in the event, but there is debate over the responsibility that event organizers carry when involving prestigious individuals with such events.
The local authority is said to be scrutinizing the incident with a view to identifying what went amiss with regard to security arrangements. The event organizers have come under harsh criticism, with most of the criticizing fans blaming them for deception in event advertisement and lack of preparation. The event organizers, on the other hand, have offered a pale explanation that the problem arose from the high hopes of the current fans.
This incident also brings to the forefront a problem that has been rising in the larger celebrity events in India, specifically with regard to the gap that exists between the promise that is made in such events and the eventual delivery that is met. It is extremely important that when such icons are involved, the promise is dissected with utmost clarity.
Despite the brouhaha, this incident has in no way diminished the popularity of Messi amongst his Indian followers. In fact, this event has once again brought to the fore the debate on how international personalities from sports need to be introduced to the Indian populace in a safe, amiable, and organized way. For a Kolkata that is proud of its football tradition, the aim is that such events need to take place in a way that the fervor is translated into bliss. Ultimately, the chaos that has ensued as a result of the Messi event is a reminder that in many cases, when “the bar is set high,” even higher “planning is required.”
