Smooth Finish to Messi's Visit to India Following Unrest in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, alongside 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 flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media indicated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.
A Busy Schedule Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely revealed a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Troubled Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.
"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."
The disturbance, which grabbed international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The promoter in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Peaceful Visits in Other Cities
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of His Vast Fame in India
Messi's fame is due to more than his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.