Kolkata, Dec 17 (NationPress) The iconic Argentine football star Lionel Messi unveiled a special video commemorating his 'GOAT India Tour' on Wednesday, significantly omitting any scenes from his visit to Kolkata's Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium).

This exclusion occurs against a backdrop of organizational chaos and fan dissatisfaction during the Kolkata segment of the tour, which was characterized by mismanagement that sparked outrage among fans and led to the arrest of the event's organizer.

The shared video on Messi's official Instagram account features only one moment from Kolkata—the unveiling of Messi's statue at Lake Town—without any footage from Yuva Bharati Krirangan. The predominant visuals showcase events from Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. It depicts Messi engaging in football activities with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at the Hyderabad stadium, interacting with children, and celebrating with fans.

Additionally, the video includes moments of Messi with Sachin Tendulkar at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, alongside clips of him engaging with the audience. Brief glimpses from the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi are also featured. Messi is seen with Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, all sharing smiles throughout the tour. Besides on-field highlights, the footage captures Messi's participation in the ‘Paddle Cup’ at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai, along with photos with actress Kareena Kapoor Khan.

During his Kolkata stay, Messi met numerous notable figures. State minister Aroop Biswas accompanied him at Yuva Bharati Krirangan, yet neither he nor the stadium event appears in the video. In contrast, several industrialists are included in the montage.

While Yuva Bharati Krirangan is missing from the visuals, Messi did acknowledge Kolkata in the caption, stating, “Namaste India! What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Thank you for the warm welcome, outstanding hospitality, and all the love throughout my tour. I hope football has a bright future in India! #GOATTourIndia #GOATconcert #MessiinIndia A Satadru Dutta Initiative.”

Kolkata received a mention in the caption, yet the Yuva Bharati event was entirely absent from the video. Notably, Messi kept the name of Satadru Dutta, the chief organizer of the tour, in the caption, despite Dutta’s arrest.

Messi also shared a reflective message about his India visit, expressing gratitude for the love received. He remarked, “First of all, thank you to India for the affection I have experienced over the past few days. It was a remarkable experience. This trip was very brief, but the love I received has alleviated all my fatigue.”

He continued, “I anticipated love, but I did not realize the extent of it. Everyone treated me with immense enthusiasm. I am returning home enriched by this experience. I hope that one day we will play in India. But whether we play or not, I will certainly return to India. Thank you, everyone.”

On December 13, the Salt Lake Stadium was filled to capacity well before the scheduled start of Messi’s event, with thousands of fans eager to catch a glimpse of the football legend. As Messi arrived, a large crowd surrounded him, attempting to capture photographs, while security struggled to manage the situation. Many spectators later complained that they could not see Messi at all. He exited the field after approximately 22 minutes.

Following his departure, chaos erupted at the stadium. Chairs and bottles were hurled onto the field, several spectators breached gates to enter the playing area, and vandalism was reported in the galleries and restrooms of Yuva Bharati Krirangan.

In the aftermath, the state government established an inquiry committee. Event organizer Satadru Dutta was arrested, and on Tuesday, Aroop Biswas resigned from his position as state Sports Minister. Senior IPS officials, including Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, received show-cause notices.