Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's Visit to India After Unrest in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media stated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.
An Intense Itinerary Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after frustrated fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, many failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent.
"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."
The ruckus, which captured 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 ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Smooth Visits in Other Cities
Messi's appearances in 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 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 engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were reports earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of His Great Fame in India
Messi's appeal is due to more than his prolific international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
