Calm Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India Following Disorder in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources stated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.
An Intense Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after angry fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in 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 detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Smooth Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.
There were speculation 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 Messi's Great Appeal in India
Messi's appeal comes not only from his prolific international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.