Calm End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India Following Unrest in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending 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 shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.
An Intense Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Troubled Start in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, most of them were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.
"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."
The disturbance, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Peaceful Visits 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 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 crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of Messi's Great Popularity in India
Messi's fame comes not only from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.