Hyderabad, Dec 13 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, had a remarkable encounter with Argentine football icon Lionel Messi in Hyderabad on Saturday. During this memorable meeting, Messi, who is in India as part of the GOAT Tour, gifted Gandhi the prestigious GOATED No. 10 jersey.

Gandhi took to Instagram to share his excitement, declaring, "Viva Football With the GOAT @leomessi" alongside a video capturing their interaction, which included moments of them posing for photos, walking together, and Messi acknowledging his fans.

Shortly after, the Congress party shared a social media update showcasing the special commemorative jersey presented by Messi in Argentina's colors. The post highlighted, "The GOAT Lionel Messi presents the GOATED No. 10 JERSEY to Rahul Gandhi ji." A video from the Hyderabad presentation also depicted Gandhi gifting Messi a memento.

Messi's arrival in Hyderabad included a visit to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, following a controversial initial appearance in Kolkata, where his brief performance at the Salt Lake Stadium led to significant backlash from fans who had invested heavily in tickets.

Upon reaching Telangana’s capital, Messi participated in various photo opportunities, including kicking a ball with children and mingling with officials. He also met with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and other prominent figures.

During his time at the Uppal Stadium, Messi was seen in a VIP box, briefly appearing on the big screen while fans watched a match. The organizers of Messi's India GOAT Tour appeared committed to ensuring that the earlier chaos in Kolkata was an isolated incident. Reports surfaced that a key organizer of the GOAT Tour had been arrested by Kolkata police due to alleged mismanagement.

Earlier that day, Satadru Dutta, the main organizer of the event at the Salt Lake Stadium, was detained after chaos erupted over high ticket prices and inadequate access to the football star. An official confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) would be lodged, emphasizing a thorough investigation into the mismanagement that caused the disorder. Jawed Shamim, Additional Director General (Law & Order), stated, "A detailed inquiry will be conducted to identify those responsible for the chaos, and action will be taken accordingly."

Messi's visit to Kolkata ended tumultuously as frustrated fans, upset over limited access to the footballer despite high ticket prices, caused disruptions within the stadium. The police resorted to a large-scale lathi charge and deployed personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to restore peace. Messi departed earlier than planned amidst the unrest.

At the time of the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was en route to the stadium but promptly turned back after learning of the turmoil. She subsequently announced the formation of a judicial committee to investigate the mismanagement that led to the chaos.