Peaceful Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India Following Kolkata Chaos
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources stated, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.
An Intense Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a series of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after disappointed fans ripped up 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 adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, many failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation became tense.
"Poor management of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by engaging in violence."
The unrest, which grabbed international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The organizer in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star online and in press interactions.
Messi also met several politicians 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 greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of His Vast Appeal in India
Messi's appeal stems not just from his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.