Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources indicated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.
A Packed Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Start in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a troubled start after angry 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 spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, many failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."
The disturbance, which captured international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The event organiser in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Successful 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 world-famous star online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor 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 waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.
There were reports earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of His Great Fame in India
Messi's fame stems not just from his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
