Peaceful Conclusion to Messi's India Tour After Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources stated, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.
A Packed Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, attending a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after frustrated fans ripped up 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 spent up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see 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.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by engaging in violence."
The disturbance, which made international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The promoter in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Smooth Engagements in Other Cities
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions.
Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader 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 speculation earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of Messi's Great Appeal in India
Messi's fame stems not just from his long 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 referred to as the beautiful game.
