Smooth End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent 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 teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources indicated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.
A Busy Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of adoring 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 hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."
The disturbance, which made international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The organizer in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Peaceful Events in Other Cities
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon online and in press interactions.
Messi also had meetings with several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.
There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of His Vast Appeal in India
Messi's appeal stems not just from his lengthy international career and wide 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 known as the beautiful game.
