Smooth End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India Following Unrest in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports stated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.
A Busy Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after angry fans tore 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 devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to witness 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.
"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."
The ruckus, 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Successful Engagements in Other Cities
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online 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 waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of His Immense Appeal in India
Messi's popularity is due to more than his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
