Angry fans attending Lionel Messi's tour of India ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch after his appearance at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium.
Thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to catch a glimpse of the football star but were left disappointed when he emerged to walk around the pitch and was obscured by a large group of officials and celebrities.
When the Argentina and Inter Miami forward was whisked away early by security after around 20 minutes, elements of the crowd turned hostile.
West Bengal's chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, said she was deeply disturbed and shocked by the events.
Announcing an inquiry, Banerjee apologized to Messi and sports lovers for the incident at the stadium.
The [inquiry] committee will conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future, the chief minister said on X.
A spokesperson for Messi emphasized that he fulfilled the time commitment agreed in advance, referring further inquiries to the apology issued by Banerjee on social media.
A police official reported the arrest of the event's chief organiser, stating authorities would ensure refunds to ticket buyers.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) clarified it had no involvement in the private event.
Messi's tour in India involves promotional events in multiple cities, beginning with the unveiling of a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata, which he attended virtually due to safety concerns.
Fans had gathered early, some traveling from far-off cities just to witness their idol. However, dissatisfaction with the event soon escalated as Messi's early departure prompted chaos, with supporters vandalizing property and throwing plastic chairs and water bottles.
One fan expressed, Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi... Why did they call us then? We have got a ticket for 12,000 rupees, but we were not even able to see his face. Another lamented that the cost of attendance was a month's salary for some attendees.
Messi was accompanied by his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez and other Argentine stars, sparking excitement among the fans prior to the upheaval.
