Messi GOAT Tour victims queue up for India-Uruguay passes; some disappointed with what they get

Around 22,000 people who felt cheated during the Messi GOAT Tour were promised complimentary tickets for the India vs Uruguay friendly by Suvendu Adhikari, the Chief Minister of West Bengal. | Photo Credit: Neeladri Bhattacharjee

The Salt Lake Stadium on Monday was a potpourri of events – player practices, security checks, press conferences and hundreds of people queueing up outside box office counters.

India is scheduled to play Uruguay on Tuesday, the last of the three friendlies for the Blue Tigers in this international window. Before the match, Suvendu Adhikari, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, announced that 22,000 people who have felt cheated during the Messi GOAT Tour will get complimentary tickets for the Uruguay match.

But for many standing outside the iconic stadium, this meant hours of waiting, facing logistical challenges and sometimes, rejection for lack of documentation. None of those in the queue – at the time of writing this report — had received refunds for their previous tickets, and were looking for some reprieve.

“We had bought two tickets for Rs. 5000 (for the Messi event). And it isn’t that they are giving tickets (equivalent to the money). They are giving the ones worth Rs. 199,” Sounak Das, who has travelled from Barasat, tells Sportstar.

“I work in Kalyani, and I have come here leaving my work. And they have opened the counters just one day before the match. If they had given at least 48 hours, it would have been better.”

For many Messi GOAT Tour victims standing outside the iconic Sat Lake Stadium in Kolkata, getting complimentary tickets for the India vs Uruguay friendly meant hours of waiting, facing logistical challenges and sometimes, rejection for lack of documentation. | Photo Credit: Neeladri Bhattacharjee

Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata as part of his G.O.A.T Tour of India in December 2025 had ended in chaos, with the player leaving early, disappointed. The angry fans, unable to watch their football icon, protested vehemently, while some broke the box chairs.

West Bengal’s Sports Minister Dr. Indranil Khan wrote on social media, naming eight centres across the city that would distribute passes for the affected fans.

READ | Free India-Uruguay tickets for Messi Tour fiasco victims; WB eyes Odisha hockey model for Indian football

“The physical passes for the match may be collected from the following places on 5th October from 11 AM till 5 PM, upon production of a valid Govt photo identity proof (Voter Card/Aadhaar card/Driving License/Passport) and the previous event paid ticket,” he wrote on X and Instagram.

But many complained that either the counters closed before 5 p.m. or they were sent back for lack of documentation.

“I had gone to the centre close to Park Street – Shubhanandan Community Hall. I went there with a photocopy of the Aadhaar card and the QR codes of the tickets. I had three tickets, Rs. 4800 each,” Abhinav, who travelled over 120 kilometres from Gangasagar to Kolkata, said.

“They asked where the other two were. I naturally told them they did not come. They asked me for a written document with their signature. Where will I get it? I asked people around there, and they asked me to come here,” he added.

Ticket sales have been a major talking point in the two friendlies of India. The match between India and five-time world champion Brazil saw only around 17,000 tickets being sold – 20 per cent of the stadium’s capacity.

In a push for more ticket sales, prices for some tickets for the Uruguay match were slashed by 90 per cent: the ones in the C1 and C2 stands, otherwise sold for Rs. 1999, were sold for Rs. 199. People in the queue told this publication that some passes given out were also worth Rs. 199.

“I bought tickets for Rs. 4800. And add my transportation cost to coming here and my daily wage of Rs. 500. Can these tickets really make up for it?,” says Sukumar Das, a lathe machine labourer who travelled nearly 70 kilometres for passes | Photo Credit: Neeladri Bhattacharjee

“We bought tickets for Rs. 8000 there, and we get these cheap tickets,” Indu from Hooghly lamented.

“I bought tickets for Rs. 4800. And add my transportation cost to coming here and my daily wage of Rs. 500. Can these tickets really make up for it?,” Sukumar Das, a lathe machine labourer who has travelled nearly 70 kilometres for passes, tells Sportstar.

There were rays of hope too. Though the counters were allegedly shut at 4:40 p.m., 20 minutes before the stipulated time, they reopened around 5:07 pm. Mr. Uttam Kumar Dutta, who had bought tickets worth Rs. 21,000, was one of the earliest ones to get passes for the game from the newly-brought stock.

Mr. Uttam Kumar Dutta got tickets for the B1 Gold Stand, which are otherwise for sale at Rs. 999 on District. Strictly from a monetary point of view, that’s an Rs. 18,000 loss. But something is better than nothing, he says.  | Photo Credit: Neeladri Bhattacharjee

“I had Rs. 7000 for each of the three tickets. I stood in queue around 4:10 p.m.. Within 30 minutes, it was gone,” he had earlier complained. His white and blue tickets for Messi were replaced with green passes for the game.

Mr. Dutta got tickets for the B1 Gold Stand, which are otherwise for sale at Rs. 999 on District. Strictly from a monetary point of view, that’s an Rs. 18,000 loss. But something is better than nothing, he says. “Now that I have some tickets, we will try and come for this match. At least, there is some sort of relief,” he said before riding away on his bike.

The sun has already risen on the matchday. The window for complimentary passes has shut. Tickets ranging from Rs. 749 to Rs. 2499 remain available on District, though several stands are sold out.

Passes carried the lion’s share of the 51,000-plus attendance in the India-Brazil game. Will that be the norm against Uruguay as well? Perhaps, the match, kicking off at 7:30 p.m., will have an answer.