📸 Disorder at Kolkata Football Event Draws Attention
Dec 14, 2025 • Sobiya Fatima • Football / Sports
Source:
Hyderabad Deccan Chronicle 14 December 2025
📰 Headline Focus
“Saffron flag adds twist to Kolkata event chaos” highlights the unrest that unfolded during a football-related gathering in Kolkata, standing in sharp contrast to the smooth conduct of a similar event elsewhere.
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🏟️ Venue & Dateline
Location: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata
Dateline: Rajib Chowdhuri | DC Kolkata, December 13
The incident occurred at one of India’s largest stadiums during a football event linked to Lionel Messi’s G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025.
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⚠️ Crowd Unrest & Vandalism
The report describes scenes of chaos and disorder inside the stadium as large sections of the crowd became restless. Visuals accompanying the report show:
Damage to stadium property
Chairs being vandalised
Crowds spilling into restricted areas
A caption specifically notes fans damaging the premises after emotions escalated.
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😡 Cause of the Disruption
The unrest is attributed mainly to spectator disappointment. According to the report:
Several attendees were angry after not seeing Lionel Messi clearly
Some claimed they only got a brief glimpse, while others alleged he was not present at all
Confusion and unmet expectations led to frustration turning into disorder
The subhead captures the divide: some were celebrating, while others were furious.
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🚩 Political Angle Adds “Twist”
A key element highlighted is a video circulating online, showing:
A group of spectators waving a saffron flag
Chants of “Jai Shri Ram” during the event
This introduced a political dimension to what was originally a sporting gathering, intensifying public debate and media focus.
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📰 Allegations & Arrests
An adjacent report titled “Organiser held after disorder” mentions:
Allegations of overcharging spectators
Claims that entry, close access, or selfies were promised in return for large sums of money
Complaints that expectations were created but not fulfilled
Following the disturbance, at least one organiser was reportedly taken into custody.
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🏛️ Political Blame Exchange
The incident triggered accusations between political parties:
The ruling TMC termed the episode as hooliganism
The BJP blamed the state government for poor security arrangements and mismanagement
Both sides accused each other of contributing to the failure in crowd control.
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📝 Overall Assessment
The Kolkata event linked to the Messi tour was marked by:
Poor crowd management
Vandalism inside a major stadium
Disappointed spectators
Allegations of financial misconduct
Political overtones overshadowing the sporting intent
The coverage presents the incident as a cautionary example of how high-profile sports events can spiral into disorder when expectations, communication, and security fail.