Peaceful Finish to Messi's Visit to India After Unrest in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources stated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.
An Intense Schedule Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a succession of brand 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 presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.
"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence."
The ruckus, which grabbed international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Successful Visits in Other Cities
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of His Immense Appeal in India
Messi's appeal is due to more than his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.