Peaceful Finish to Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Unrest in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources indicated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.
A Busy Schedule Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Troubled Start in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw 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, most of them failed 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.
"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."
The disturbance, which made international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called 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.
Smooth Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions.
Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these interactions, Messi could be seen greeting large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were reports 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 His Immense Appeal in India
Messi's popularity comes not only from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
