Calm Conclusion to Lionel Messi's Visit to India Following Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources stated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.
An Intense Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after angry fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, the majority failed to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Poor management of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."
The ruckus, which grabbed international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The promoter in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.
Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were rumors earlier that Messi would meet 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 Reason of Messi's Immense Fame in India
Messi's popularity comes not only from his long international career and extensive 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.
