Calm Finish to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Unrest in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources indicated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.
A Packed Itinerary Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a series of promotional 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, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after disappointed fans tore 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 thousands of ardent supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, most of them didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent.
"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."
The ruckus, which made international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Smooth Visits in Other Cities
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, 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, political figure 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 Great Fame in India
Messi's popularity comes not only from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
