Peaceful End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending 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, local media reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.
A Busy Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a troubled start after disappointed fans destroyed 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 ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "expressed their fury by engaging in violence."
The ruckus, which grabbed international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The event organiser in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Peaceful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several political figures 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 interactions, Messi could be seen greeting large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were reports earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of Messi's Immense Fame in India
Messi's popularity stems not just from his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.