Fans throw chairs after Inter Miami's... ... Uppal Turns Festive as Messi Craze Sweeps Hyderabad During ‘GOAT Cup’

Fans throw chairs after Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi departs from the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on December 13, 2025. Thousands of fans packed into a stadium in eastern India on December 13 to cheer on Lionel Messi as the football legend unveiled a 21-metre (70-foot) statue of himself. - AFP

Hyderabad on High Alert for Messi Match, Security Tightened at Uppal After Kolkata Unrest

Hyderabad police have imposed an unprecedented security clampdown around the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal ahead of Lionel Messi’s appearance in the ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’, learning from the chaos in Kolkata. To prevent a repeat of the Salt Lake Stadium unrest, authorities prioritised strict crowd control, ticket verification, and rapid-response measures.

Only spectators with a valid QR-code or barcoded tickets and authorised passes will be allowed near the stadium. Multiple checkpoints are set up on approach roads, with warnings that non-ticket holders will be turned away to avoid uncontrolled crowds that escalated tensions in Kolkata.

Security has been massively scaled up, with nearly 2,500 personnel from law and order, traffic police, Telangana State Special Police, and specialised units deployed in and around the stadium. Support includes Octopus commandos, mounted police, Vajra vehicles, bomb disposal squads, and sniffer dogs. A joint command-and-control centre monitors in real-time via over 400 CCTV cameras covering gates, stands, parking, and approach roads.

Traffic restrictions and diversions are enforced on key routes from the afternoon to late at night. Fans are advised to use Metro and RTC buses, with parking limited to 34 designated locations. Gates open hours early for staggered entry and thorough checks.

Senior officials confirmed the blueprint was finalised after reviewing Kolkata footage and reports, where angry fans damaged property and clashed after Messi left shortly after arriving. In Hyderabad, controlled movement, separate enclosures for VIPs, media, and players, and standby rapid-response teams aim to maintain order and focus on football.