Calm Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Unrest in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his visit there.
A Packed Itinerary Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, participating in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a troubled start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.
"Faulty planning 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 – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."
The unrest, 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Successful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several political figures 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 engagements, 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 meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of Messi's Immense Appeal in India
Messi's fame stems not just from his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
