Peaceful Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour After Disorder in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources reported, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.
A Busy Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Start in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after disappointed fans ripped up seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.
"Poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by engaging in violence."
The unrest, which made 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 taken into custody, 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 showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were rumors earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of His Vast Appeal in India
Messi's appeal stems not just from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
