Smooth Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India After Unrest in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources indicated, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.
An Intense Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after frustrated fans tore 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 a multitude of devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, many didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.
"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."
The unrest, which grabbed international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The event organiser in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Successful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the global icon online and in press interactions.
Messi also met 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 waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of Messi's Great Fame in India
Messi's fame comes not only from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.