Smooth End to Messi's Visit to India Following Unrest in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports stated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.
A Busy Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy 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 massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a troubled start after angry fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless adoring supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile.
"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."
The disturbance, which grabbed 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 promoter in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several political figures 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 engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling 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 departed 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 is due to more than his long international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
