Smooth End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India Following Unrest in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports stated, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.
An Intense Schedule Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a series 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 revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Start in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after angry fans destroyed seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked 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 – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."
The disturbance, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Smooth Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.
Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star 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 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 departed on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of Messi's 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 highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
