Peaceful End to Messi's India Tour Following Kolkata Chaos
Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports indicated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.
A Busy Schedule Across Several Metropolises
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 traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.
Troubled Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after frustrated fans ripped up 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 countless ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.
"Poor management of a hyped-up event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."
The ruckus, which made 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 detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several politicians 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 waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were rumors earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of His Immense Popularity in India
Messi's appeal comes not only from his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
