Smooth End to Messi's Visit to India 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, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources indicated, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.
A Packed Itinerary Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after frustrated fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Poor management of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."
The ruckus, which captured 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 detained, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Smooth Engagements in Other Cities
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend on social media and in media interviews.
Messi also had meetings with several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these interactions, Messi could be seen greeting large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were reports earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of Messi's Vast Appeal in India
Messi's fame is due to more than his prolific international career and wide 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 known as the beautiful game.
