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.
Messi is in India for his 'GOAT tour', a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
His tour began with the unveiling of a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata, which had been assembled over the course of 27 days by a 45-strong crew.
It was unveiled virtually due to security reasons, meaning thousands of fans instead traveled to the city's stadium for a chance to see the footballer.
They were chanting, buying jerseys, and wearing I love Messi headbands.
Messi initially walked around the stadium waving to fans, but after his appearance was abruptly ended on Saturday, frustrated fans stormed the pitch and vandalized banners and tents, as others hurled plastic chairs and water bottles.
The 2022 World Cup winner - considered one of football's greatest players of all time - had been expected to play a short exhibition game at the stadium, according to news reports.
Several fans expressed their anger at the management and dissatisfaction with the obstructed view, condemning the security protocols that left them feeling robbed of their experience. They pointed out that many had paid a month's salary just to see Messi.
Banerjee announced an inquiry into the incident and apologized to Messi and sports lovers for the disruption.
In the backdrop of India's cricket-fueled passion, Kolkata stands out for its fervent football culture, evidenced by the massive turnout for this highly anticipated event.
