Peaceful Finish to Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.
A Busy Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, participating in a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a troubled start after disappointed fans ripped up seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.
"Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence."
The disturbance, which grabbed 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Smooth Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings 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 departed on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of Messi's Great Appeal in India
Messi's popularity comes not only from his prolific international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.