In an eventful start to Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated visit to India, chaos erupted on Saturday when fans, frustrated by limited access to the soccer legend, resorted to unruly behavior. Objects were hurled, seats were torn apart, and the pitch at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium was invaded, resulting in significant disorder.

The commotion unfolded as Messi made a fleeting appearance, obscured by a large entourage, much to the dismay of the eager crowd. Reports from ANI news agency captured scenes of fans hurling debris and scaling the stadium’s perimeter fence. The football icon’s presence, which lasted a mere 20 minutes, left many spectators disillusioned, according to local media reports.

“Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi,” lamented a disappointed fan to ANI. “Why did they call us then? … We bought tickets for 12,000 rupees ($130), yet we couldn’t even see his face.”

Efforts to reach out to the event organizers for a statement regarding the tumultuous start to Messi’s tour went unanswered.

Messi’s visit to India includes a series of engagements, featuring concerts, youth football clinics, a padel tournament, and the launch of charitable projects across cities such as Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

The chief minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Banerjee, apologised to Messi and ordered a probe into the incident.

“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium,” Banerjee, who was on her way to the event when chaos broke out, posted on X.

“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,” she said. “I am constituting an enquiry committee… the committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.”

West Bengal, Kerala and Goa states have long had large soccer followings in otherwise cricket-crazed India.

Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona twice visited Kolkata and in 2017 unveiled a statue of himself holding the World Cup, in the presence of thousands of fans.

Messi, who played in a friendly match at the Salt Lake Stadium in 2011 in which Argentina defeated Venezuela 1-0, virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself in Kolkata on Saturday.