Smooth End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India Following Kolkata Chaos
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.
An Intense Agenda Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a packed schedule in India, participating in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a troubled start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and threw 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 forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, the majority failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile.
"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."
The disturbance, 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
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 press interactions.
Messi also had meetings with several political figures and celebrities – film actor 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 greeting large fan gatherings 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 departed on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of Messi's Immense Appeal in India
Messi's fame is due to more than his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
