Calm Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon 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 congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.
A Busy Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a troubled start after frustrated fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, many didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent.
"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."
The disturbance, which made international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The organizer 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 concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting 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 departed on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of Messi's Immense Appeal in India
Messi's appeal is due to more than his long international career and broad 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 known as the beautiful game.
