₹120 Cr Messi Tour Turns Messy, Exposes VIP Culture, Chaos And Crisis In Indian Football

Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated India visit, meant to celebrate football, instead exposed deep flaws in how the country hosts and consumes sport. From chaotic planning, VIP culture and fan mismanagement in Kolkata to celebrity-driven optics in Mumbai and pollution delays in Delhi, the tour sparked widespread criticism. The fallout has been severe, with resignations and suspensions in West Bengal. All this for a reported ₹120 crore, even as Indian football struggles for survival.