Peaceful Finish to Messi's Visit to India After Disorder in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources stated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.
A Packed Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to 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 adoring supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, the majority failed to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence."
The ruckus, which captured international headlines, overshadowed 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Smooth Events in Other Cities
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star 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 gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of Messi's Vast Fame in India
Messi's popularity stems not just from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
