Calm End to Lionel Messi's India Tour After Disorder in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting 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, reports reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his visit there.
An Intense Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a series of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after disappointed fans tore 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 thousands of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, many didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense.
"Poor management of a much-publicized 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 engaging in 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 organizer in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Successful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in media interviews.
Messi also met 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 meetings, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with 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 Popularity in India
Messi's appeal stems not just from his prolific international career and broad 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 known as the beautiful game.
