Smooth Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports stated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.
A Busy Schedule Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, participating in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after frustrated fans tore seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely 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, most of them were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation became tense.
"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."
The unrest, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The organizer in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in media interviews.
Messi also had meetings with 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 interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of His Great Popularity in India
Messi's appeal comes not only from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
