Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour After Unrest in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports reported, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.
An Intense Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.
Chaotic Start in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after disappointed fans destroyed 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 devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by engaging in violence."
The unrest, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over 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 detained, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions.
Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were reports 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of His Vast Fame in India
Messi's popularity comes not only from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
