Kolkata/IBNS, Dec. 13 -- Anger and chaos erupted at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yubabharati Stadium (Salt Lake Stadium) on Saturday after Argentine football icon Lionel Messi's much-anticipated visit ended in disappointment for thousands of fans, triggering vandalism and protests.

The 85,000-capacity stadium was nearly full when Messi arrived around 11:30 am in a white luxury car and briefly took the field. Initial celebrations, however, quickly turned into outrage as Messi was escorted out within half an hour, leaving fans with little to no view of the World Cup-winning footballer.

Spectators soon began hurling plastic water bottles, followed by chairs, as protests escalated into full-scale vandalism. Barricades were smashed, sections of the...