Gavaskar blames Messi for chaos in Kolkata

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has blamed Messi for the chaos surrounding Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata. He alleged that the World Cup-winning star failed to keep his promise and the unexpected incident took place.
Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul arrived at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13. The organisers had announced that it would be a two-hour fan event. But the event ended abruptly without giving any reason. Thousands of ticket holders were unable to see Messi properly.
The situation then turned dire. Angry fans turned violent. Kolkata police arrested the organiser, Shatdru Dutta. The incident was blamed on a crowd of politicians and VIPs. However, Gavaskar is reluctant to accept these explanations. In a column in Sportster, he said, “The person who did not keep his promise is blamed for everything except him. What was in the agreement was not disclosed. But if he left long before the hour, the real blame lies with him and the people with him.”
Gavaskar also dismissed the security risk argument. He wrote, “Yes, politicians and so-called VIPs were around him. But there was no security threat to him or his team.” He further questioned, “If he had taken the penalty shot, everyone around would have moved away and the audience would have seen their hero.”
The 75-year-old former captain also spoke for the organisers. He noted that Messi’s events in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi were well-run. “The events in other places went well because the promises were kept,” Gavaskar wrote. Finally, he added, ‘Before blaming the people of Kolkata, it is necessary to see whether both parties have kept their word.’