Calm End to Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.
An Intense Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a succession 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 remotely revealed a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Troubled Start in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after angry fans ripped up seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.
"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging 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 promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions.
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 interactions, Messi could be seen greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were speculation 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 Source of His Vast Popularity in India
Messi's fame comes not only from his prolific international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
