Smooth Conclusion to Lionel Messi's Visit to India After Disorder in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.
An Intense Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after angry fans ripped up 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 be at the event.
However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."
The disturbance, which grabbed international headlines, marred 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 police custody.
Peaceful Visits in Other Cities
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered 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 interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.
There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of His Great Appeal in India
Messi's fame stems not just from his long 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 referred to as the beautiful game.
