Peaceful Conclusion to Lionel Messi's Visit to India After Kolkata Chaos
Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude 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, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media reported, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.
An Intense Agenda Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely presented a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after disappointed fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, many didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.
"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."
The ruckus, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Successful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend on social media and in media interviews.
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 meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of Messi's Great Appeal in India
Messi's fame is due to more than 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 called the beautiful game.
