Smooth Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Unrest in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.
A Packed Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, attending a string of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after angry fans tore seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation became tense.
"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."
The unrest, which grabbed international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The promoter in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Peaceful Visits in Other Cities
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would meet 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 Reason of His Immense Appeal in India
Messi's fame is due to more than his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
