2 hrs ago
Messi Tour Fans Face Another Ticket Ordeal for Uruguay Friendly
Many fans had bought tickets to see Lionel Messi, but they could not watch the event at Salt Lake Stadium.
Afterward, the chief minister said those fans would get tickets to a football match against Uruguay.
People travelled from different places to collect their new tickets.
Some were asked for letters that they did not know they needed.
Others waited in long queues and heard that no tickets were available.
The ticket counter later opened again.
Some fans managed to collect passes, but they said the process was difficult.
One fan was glad to get tickets but had to give back the Messi event tickets he had kept.
Fans who could not watch Lionel Messi’s event at Salt Lake Stadium were promised tickets to Tuesday’s friendly against Uruguay.
The promise followed a 4-0 loss by India to Brazil at the stadium.
Fans travelled from Kolkata-area districts and farther away to collect complimentary passes on Monday.
Some collectors were asked to provide authorisation letters, while others reported unclear instructions and long queues.
The counter briefly announced no tickets were available before reopening about 35 minutes later.
- Who
- Fans who had bought tickets for the Lionel Messi event but could not watch it.
- What
- They were promised complimentary tickets to a friendly against Uruguay, but encountered confusion and long waits while collecting them.
- Where
- Salt Lake Stadium and collection points in Kolkata; fans also travelled from surrounding districts.
- When
- Passes were scheduled for collection on Monday; the friendly was scheduled for Tuesday. The article does not specify the dates.
- Why
- The chief minister announced the replacement tickets for fans who could not watch the Messi event.
Key facts
- Promised replacement event
- A friendly against Uruguay
- Original event
- The Lionel Messi GOAT tour at Salt Lake Stadium
- Fans affected
- The article says most of the 22,000 paying fans could not watch the Messi event.
- Collection schedule
- Monday, from 11am to 5pm
- Ticket collection problem
- Some people were told to produce authorisation letters for the people whose passes they were collecting.
- Reported counter disruption
- Fans were told tickets were unavailable at about 4.40pm; the counter reopened 35 minutes later.
- Brazil match result
- India lost 4-0 to Brazil at Salt Lake Stadium.
Quotes
Abhinaba Maity
A fan who travelled from Ganga Sagar to collect complimentary tickets.
“At least I have some solace after what we endured at the Messi event.”
telegraphindia.com
“It was so painful to experience such a harrowing time.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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