Calm Finish to Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media stated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.
A Busy Agenda Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a packed schedule in India, attending a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, most of them were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Poor management of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."
The ruckus, which made international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Peaceful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.
Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of Messi's Immense Appeal in India
Messi's popularity is due to more than his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
