Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's Visit to India After Kolkata Chaos
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources indicated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.
A Packed Itinerary Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a series of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely presented a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after frustrated fans destroyed seats and threw 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 attend the event.
However, many failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.
"Poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."
The ruckus, which grabbed 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 organizer in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Successful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.
Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were reports earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of His Great Appeal in India
Messi's appeal 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 millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
