Lionel Messi’s visit to India turned sour after furious fans stormed the pitch and resorted to vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Angry fans who had splashed out on expensive tickets to see the Argentina legend in the flesh began hurling bottles and attempting to break the gates between the stands, allegedly protesting the mismanagement of the event after Messi left early.

The Inter Miami star arrived at the stadium at 11.15am local time, but only stayed for approximately half an hour before being rushed away, unable to complete a full lap of the stadium due to the chaos.

There were around 80,000 paying fans inside the 85,000-capacity venue, according to locals reports, some of whom had paid up to £99 to see the World Cup winner.

Tensions flared as many were unable to catch a glimpse of the Argentinian as he was mobbed by a huge entourage which included his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and and Rodrigo De Paul.

‘Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi,’ a fan told ANI news agency. Why did they call us then? … We have got a ticket for 12,000 rupees (£99), but we were not even able to see his face.’ 

Chants of ‘we want Messi’ broke out in the stands before frustrations boiled over and fans began climbing fences and storming the pitch in a desperate attempt see the right winger before his abrupt departure. 

Astonishing footage shared to social media on Saturday morning also showed huge crowds of supporters launching bottles and damaging the fibreglass seats, forcing police to intervene as they struggled to deal with crowd control.

Messi arrives at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday

Messi is surrounded by a huge entourage as he tours the pitch during his tour of India

Lionel Messi’s visit to India turned sour after furious fans stormed the pitch in Kolkata 

Police scrambled to contain the crowd shortly after the violence erupted, with local reports claiming officers were forced to used batons to disperse the crowd. 

Pictures of the carnage show fans tearing down banners, smashing the stadium’s speakers and swearing at officials on the pitch. 

The chief minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Banerjee, apologised to Messi and ordered a probe into the incident.

‘I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium,’ Banerjee, who was on her way to the event when chaos broke out, posted on X.

‘I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident,’ she said. 

‘I am constituting an enquiry committee… the committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.’ 

Messi was visiting India for the first time since 2011, and this time the former capital city built a remarkable 70ft statue of the icon to mark his visit. 

He is there as part of a tour during which he is scheduled to attend concerts, youth football clinics, a padel tournament and launch charitable initiatives at events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. 

Messi tours the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata with Aroop Biswas, minister of sports of West Bengal, while flanked by his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez

Fans chase after Messi as he is rushed inside the stadium following a brief appearance

Fans swarm the pitch of Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata during a visit from Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi

Fans storm the pitch of the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata after a visit by Lionel Messi turned sour

Fans react with fury as Lionel Messi departs from the Salt Lake Stadium

A fan smashes a chair during Lionel Messi’s visit to Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday

Security personnel shield themselves with chairs during a riot at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata

The winger will also unveil a huge 70-foot tall statue of himself in Kolkata later today. 

The iron behemoth is the largest statue of any footballer in the world and is around 13 times taller than Messi himself.

The statue is situated in Lake Town, South Dum Dum, near the Kolkata Time Zone Tower – a one-third sized replica of London’s Big Ben. 

There is also going to be a ‘Hola Messi’ fan zone featuring an eight-foot tall of him sat on a throne, as well as a recreation of his Miami home starring mannequins of the forward and his family. 

West Bengal, Kerala and Goa states have long had large soccer followings in otherwise cricket-crazed India.

Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona twice visited Kolkata and in 2017 unveiled a statue of himself holding the World Cup, in the presence of thousands of fans.

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Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has raised eyebrows ahead of Anthony Joshua’s much-talked-about clash with Jake Paul, suggesting the bout has been carefully staged.

Speaking to FightHub TV before the fight on December 19 at the Kaseya Centre in Miami, Wilder questioned the authenticity of the heavyweight contest between the two-time unified champion Joshua and YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul.

The fight marks another bold step for Paul, who shocked the boxing world in 2024 when he defeated former heavyweight great Mike Tyson after the latter came out of retirement. However, Deontay Wilder believes stepping into the ring with an active and elite fighter like Joshua presents a completely different level of danger.

“In my opinion, I think it’s (the fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua) scripted a little bit because of the weight difference, and Joshua is active. This is going to be the first time that we see (Jake) Paul fighting an active fighter,” Wilder said.

“We’ve seen him with Mike Tyson, that was all fun, that was cute…but now you’re dealing with a real professional, so we’ll see how it ends up.”

The bout is expected to be a major commercial event, with Joshua and Paul reportedly set to earn at least $40 million each. The eight-round fight will be contested using 10-ounce gloves, while regulations state that Joshua must not weigh more than 245 pounds on fight night.

Despite the hype, the professionally sanctioned heavyweight contest has sparked serious concern within boxing circles. Naija News reports that Muhammad Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali, alongside former world champion Amir Khan, have both warned that Paul could be putting his life at risk by facing a fighter of Joshua’s calibre.

© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]

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Remo Stars head coach, Sulaiman Folarin, says they plan to end the first half of the 2025-26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, with an unbeaten run.

The Sky Blue Stars have recorded seven wins, one draw and eight defeats in 16 NPFL matches this season.

Remo Stars will do battle with Bayelsa United in their next league game on Sunday.

Folarin assured they will fight to get maximum points in the game.

“Our plan is not to lose any match in the first round again,” Folarin told Remo Stars media.

“We will go to Bayelsa United and fight and hope to get the result needed.”

Bayelsa United versus Remo Stars clash will be staged at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.

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The woman at the center of disgraced Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore’s affair scandal has kept her job with the school’s athletic department, according to a report. 

In a stunning succession of events, Moore was first dismissed as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday due to an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a member of staff and later detained over an alleged assault in Ann Arbor.

As of Friday evening – two days on from the 39-year-old’s dismissal and subsequent arrest – the staffer alleged to be his mistress is reportedly still employed by the school. She has not yet been publicly identified. 

‘There is no change in her employment status,’ Michigan confirmed to TMZ.

Michigan President Domenico Grasso had announced in a school-wide letter on Thursday afternoon that the university had been presented with the findings of an internal investigation that led to Moore’s immediate firing. 

Grasso strongly emphasized that the disgraced coach’s conduct would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He did not, however, make a reference to any other member of staff. 

Former Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore was fired by Michigan earlier this week after allegedly having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a staffer  

Moore, 39, allegedly threatened to kill himself and make a female victim watch after breaking into his assistant’s apartment following his dismissal from Michigan 

‘There is absolutely no tolerance for this conduct at the University of Michigan. None,’ Grasso wrote. 

‘This breach of trust by Coach Moore is painful for many in our community, first and foremost, the individuals directly involved in this situation. Yet our swift and decisive action reflects the University’s staunch commitment to a campus culture of respect, integrity and accountability.’

He said that the university’s investigation would continue, as he called for anyone with further information to contact the college.

The Wall Street Journal reported that a tipster informed Wolverines officials in mid-October that Moore had been engaged in an inappropriate relationship with someone on his staff. A person familiar with the situation told the Journal that the university opened an investigation but found no evidence of a relationship as both Moore and the woman denied the claim.

Seeking more information, the school reportedly hired an outside law firm, which the woman in question ultimately contacted on Wednesday to change her story, the Journal reported. The woman allegedly told the firm that she and Moore had been involved for two years until 2024.

The school responded to this change in testimony by firing Moore, according to the Journal, which did not identify the woman by name.

On Friday, Moore was charged with breaking and entering, home invasion and stalking at his arraignment in Washtenaw County, just days after allegedly entering his assistant’s apartment, terrorizing an unnamed woman and threatening to harm himself in the wake of his firing over the affair. 

Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski said Moore and the woman had been engaged in an ‘intimate relationship’ for a number of years. Magistrate Odetalla M Odetalla forbade the court from identifying the alleged victim. The 911 call that led to Moore’s arrest was made from an apartment belonging to his executive assistant, Paige Shiver. 

The 911 call that led to Moore’s arrest was made from an apartment belonging to his executive assistant, Paige Shiver (pictured)

Moore has been married to his wife, Kelli, since 2015. They have three daughters together

University of Michigan president Domenico Grasso penned a letter to staff and students 

Pittsfield, Michigan police and Washtenaw County prosecutors claimed the uninvited Moore entered a residence unarmed through an unlocked door and ‘engaged in a verbal argument with the victim that escalated.’ From there, he allegedly grabbed two butter knives and a pair of scissors while threatening to harm himself.

‘I’m going to kill myself,’ Moore told the alleged victim, as claimed by assistant prosecutor Kati Rezmierski on Friday. ‘I’m going to make you watch. My blood is on your hands. You ruined my life.’

Moore allegedly fled the residence before police could arrive. He was ultimately arrested Wednesday evening at a church parking lot in a neighboring town. After his arraignment on Friday, he has bonded out of custody, court records state.

If convicted on all counts, Moore could face up to six-and-a-half years in jail and as much as $3,500 in fines, according to Washtenaw County’s Friday statement. 

He was granted a $25,00 bond and ordered to wear a GPS device while continuing to undergo mental health treatment. His next court appearance is January 22.

Defense attorney Joe Simon insisted there is ‘no evidence to suggest’ his client is a threat to the public while out on bond.

Shiver has not been officially identified as the 911 caller, the alleged victim, or the Wolverines staffer with whom Moore was alleged to have been involved. 

The 32-year-old has been a visible part of the Wolverines football program as Moore’s executive assistant. She’s also the daughter of Bears scout Jeff Shiver, who has been a constant presence with the historic NFL team since 1987.

Moore is pictured next to his now-former assistant, Shiver, during a game on Big Ten Network

Moore, pictured with wife Kelli, was taken into police custody hours after he was fired

School records show Paige’s salary spiked 70.6 percent over that time, from $58,025 in 2022 and 2023 to $99,000 in 2025. 

Interestingly, the Bears drafted one of Moore’s players in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft in tight end Colston Loveland. The elder Shiver has also appeared at Michigan games with his daughter, as seen in one 2021 Instagram post that was ‘liked’ by Moore.

Paige was even profiled on the Bears’ website in 2016 amid her long-time battle with Pompe Disease, which is a rare disorder that impacts the heart and skeletal muscles.

‘I get a lot of pain throughout my body,’ she wrote about her illness. ‘When I am in pain, I am really in pain and there is nothing that can be done but hope and pray that it will go away. This disease has been such an impact on my life and sometimes I feel as if it has taken over my life because every day is a battle.’

At the time, Paige was receiving semi-weekly treatments for the disorder and was considering a move to Baton Rouge after graduating from Michigan’s Big Ten rival, Purdue. She ultimately made her way to Michigan athletics, where she was promoted to Assistant Recruiting & Operations Coordinator in 2022 and later became Executive Assistant to the Head Coach.

The younger Shiver has switched her social media profiles to ‘private’ since the Moore scandal broke and has not responded to the Daily Mail’s emails requesting comment. 

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Nigeria’s rising fencing talents, Mahadi and Mahathir Idongesit, will be among the 60 competitors at this weekend’s International Fencing Federation (FIE) Junior Epee World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Originally slated for Lagos, the tournament was relocated to Uzbekistan after the Nigeria Fencing Federation opted to redirect its resources toward hosting a more suitable Commonwealth Championships in 2026.

The Idongesit brothers, who made their international debut for Nigeria at the 2025 African Championships in Lagos, are eager to test their skills against some of the world’s best. Mahadi currently holds a global ranking of 595, while Mahathir is placed at 608. Both will face stiff competition from highly-rated Egyptian stars, including world No. 4 Youssef Shamel and world No. 8 Eslam Osama.

The event will also feature fencers from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Chinese Taipei, and host nation Uzbekistan.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Adeyinka Samuel, President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, expressed optimism about Nigeria’s return to the international stage:“We are excited that our fencers are back in action after months of inactivity, particularly with the return of fencing tournaments. We are confident that their participation will help them gain valuable experience ahead of the Commonwealth Championships. We hope more of our fencers will return to action and begin competing at top level, because they need these experiences to measure up against the rest of the Commonwealth nations in 2026.

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Nigeria has officially submitted its bid to the African Union Sports Council to host the 2031 African Games for the first time since the country held the continent’s flagship multi-sport event in Abuja in 2003.

The Nigeria Sports Commission confirmed on Friday that the bid was presented during a series of high-level engagements with the AUSC, where officials highlighted the country’s preparedness, infrastructure and experience in staging major international competitions.

The bid presentation was delivered by renowned sports broadcaster and administrator Mainasara Ilo, who highlighted Nigeria’s technical capacity and organisational record, while reaffirming the country’s readiness to host a modern, inclusive and impactful African Games.

Nigeria’s case is strongly supported by its recent track record as host of several continental and regional tournaments. These include the CAA Africa U18 and U20 Athletics Championships, Africa Karate Championship, ITTF Africa Youth Table Tennis Championship, African Armwrestling Championship, Badminton National Open, West Africa Para Games, and the African Cadet and Junior Taekwondo Championship.

The economic impact of recent events has been significant. The CAA U18 and U20 Africa Athletics Championships alone provided a boost to more than 5,000 small and medium enterprises through increased commercial activity around host cities.

In the same vein, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, now rated as a World Athletics Gold Label race, has grown into one of Africa’s most visible road races, drawing elite runners from across the globe while promoting tourism and projecting Nigeria’s image on the international stage.

Nigeria further reinforced its credentials in 2024 with the hosting of the Africa Military Games, an event that strengthened regional cooperation, enhanced diplomatic ties and elevated the country’s soft power across the continent.

The West Africa Para Games and related competitions also delivered lasting benefits, creating hundreds of direct jobs and supporting thousands more indirectly in hospitality, transport, tourism, security, merchandising and event services.

© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]

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Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has claimed everyone believed they were Premier League title contenders after their 1-1 draw with Arsenal last month.

The Blues took the lead against Mikel Arteta’s men despite going down to 10 men in the first half.

But Mikel Merino’s header ensured the league leaders left Stamford Bridge with one point.

However, since then, Chelsea’s form has fallen out and they are yet to win a single game, leading to criticism of the manager.

“It’s something that unfortunately I cannot control [if anyone doesn’t have full faith in me],” Maresca told reporters.

“After Arsenal game, everyone was thinking that we were title contenders. After one week, everyone is complaining.

“It’s football, it’s our business!”

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Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand has expressed disappointment that Nathan Tella was not listed in the Super Eagles’ final squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Recall that Chelle unveiled his final 28-man list on Thursday, December 11, the deadline given to all team coaches by the Confederation of African Football.

Read Also:AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Can Win Title In Morocco — Onazi

Tella, who recently returned from a long injury spell, was not selected by Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle despite earlier suggestions from sporting director Simon Rolfes that he would make the trip to Morocco.

Speaking before Leverkusen’s Bundesliga match against Cologne, Hjulmand told Die Zeit, that the club would gain from keeping Tella during the tournament.

“This is beneficial for Leverkusen, of course. But Nathan had hopes, real hopes…”

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• Fans want stability at the NRL club
• Follows a chaotic December 

By ANDREW PRENTICE, SPORTS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA

Published: 00:41 EST, 13 December 2025 | Updated: 00:41 EST, 13 December 2025

More than 1000 Wests Tigers fans met on Saturday and marched as one, demanding the Holman Barnes Group resign from the embattled NRL club.

Led by passionate local mayor Darcy Byrne, the rally went ahead in Sydney’s inner west.

Supporters from as far as Tasmania and Perth were on hand to showcase their support, as was footy legend Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, who is fed up with the state of the club that he represented with distinction.

Darcy predicted the downfall of the Tigers if the current regime remains in charge.

‘We simply won’t be in the NRL in a couple of years’ time if these people (Holman Barnes) are allowed to continue the way they have been,’ he said.

In the space of 11 chaotic days since December 1, the joint venture club removed its independent board directors, CEO Shane Richardson resigned, the NRL intervened to reinstate the sacked directors and coach Benji Marshall saw his contract extended until 2030.

More than 1000 Wests Tigers fans met on Saturday and marched as one, demanding the Holman Barnes Group resign (pictured, footy legend Steve Roach)

Led by passionate local mayor Darcy Byrne, the rally went ahead in Sydney’s inner west

Byrne confirmed there are plans to protest again during the NRL pre-season trials in February if the club continues to lack stability

Byrne announced a new organisation, Wests Tigers Unite, has been created to offer fans a platform to voice their concerns to club power brokers

Byrne confirmed there are plans to protest again during the pre-season trials in February if the club continues to lack stability.

He also announced a new organisation, Wests Tigers Unite, which will offer fans a platform to voice their concerns to club power brokers.

‘We’ll give them until February…to the first trial game at Leichhardt,’ Byrne told News Corp.

‘And if the problem hasn’t been fixed, if we don’t have real independent governance, well, guess what? We are going to protest again.

‘There you go Holman Barnes, have a think about that over Christmas.’

Roach said it was essential that the gripes of loyal fans are heard.

‘I’m a Tigers supporter, so I’m just like everyone else,’ he said. 

‘I want the power to go back to the fans and get them to have a say. 

‘They are the people that pay their hard-earned week in and week out to go and watch the team play, so they should have a voice.’ 

Fellow Tigers tragic Hannah Nichols also had the support of many after holding signs that read: ‘Wests Tigers. Not Magpies. Not Balmain.’ And, ‘It’s our club. Not yours.’

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Fed-up Wests Tigers fans take to the streets for rally and DEMAND Holman Barnes Group resign from NRL club

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Fulham manager, Marco Silva has acknowledged the difficult weeks ahead after Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey were officially named in Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Their call-ups mean Fulham are the only club contributing three players to the Super Eagles’ delegation; an honour on paper, but a heavy footballing burden for Silva.

All three have been integral to Fulham’s season so far. Iwobi has become Silva’s go-to tactical solution, filling roles from winger to deep-lying playmaker with ease.

Bassey, entrusted at the heart of defence, has built a reputation for consistency and composure.

Chukwueze arrived on loan from AC Milan with modest expectations and a slow start, but in recent weeks has burst into form with two goals and two assists in his last four games.

Their absence will hit Fulham during a particularly dense run of fixtures.

Speaking on Thursday, Silva made no attempt to hide the challenge ahead, though he stressed the club had prepared for this outcome.

“We knew it was going to happen. We will not panic about its impact,” Silva said.

“We are talking about three starting XI players. We know Alex is a key player in any position he plays. The importance of Calvin, and what Chukwueze has been doing in recent games cannot be overemphasised. You have to find solutions. If you know any other way to handle it (AFCON), let me know.”

Chukwueze, Iwobi and Bassey will feature in this weekend’s Premier League clash against Burnley before flying out to Egypt, where Nigeria will hold camp ahead of the competition in Morocco.

Should Nigeria replicate last year’s run to the final, the trio could miss as many as seven Fulham matches.

Among those likely absences are an EFL Cup meeting with Newcastle and key Premier League fixtures against Nottingham Forest, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Chelsea and Leeds on January 17.

AFCON 2025 runs from December 21 to January 18, with Nigeria opening against Tanzania on December 23 before facing Tunisia and Uganda in Group C.

Africa Cup of Nations Afcon 2023 match between Nigeria and Equitorial Guinea at Stade D Ebimpe on January 14, 2024 in Abidjan, Cote d Ivore. Photo by IMAGO

The Super Eagles, three-time African champions, last lifted the trophy in 2013 and enter the tournament in search of a long-awaited fourth title.

Chukwueze and Iwobi were part of the bronze-winning squad in 2019. Bassey joined them to win silver in Côte d’Ivoire last year.

Now, all three depart Craven Cottage again, leaving Fulham to navigate one of the toughest periods of their season without them.

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