Calm Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media stated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.
A Packed Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after disappointed fans ripped up seats and threw 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 forked out up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.
"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 – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."
The unrest, which captured 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Smooth Engagements in Other Cities
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions.
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 playing football 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of His Great Fame in India
Messi's fame is due to more than his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
