Calm End to Lionel Messi's India Tour After Disorder in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked 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, taking part in a succession of marketing 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 remotely revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and hurled 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 ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness 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 rapidly taken away as the situation became tense.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."
The ruckus, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The event organiser in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Successful Engagements in Other Cities
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of His Great Fame in India
Messi's fame comes not only from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
