Smooth Finish to Messi's Visit to India After Kolkata Chaos
Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, local media indicated, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.
An Intense Itinerary Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, attending a succession 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 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after angry fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, many failed to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."
The ruckus, which captured international headlines, marred 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 ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, 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 acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were rumors 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 Source of His Vast Popularity in India
Messi's fame comes not only from his long international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
