Smooth End to Messi's Visit to India After Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources reported, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.
A Busy Schedule Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, attending a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a troubled start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of adoring supporters had forked out 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 much-publicized event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."
The disturbance, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The event organiser in Kolkata has been detained, 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 went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with 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 Popularity in India
Messi's appeal stems not just from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
