Calm Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Unrest in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.
A Packed Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after disappointed fans tore 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 a multitude of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, many didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Poor management of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence."
The unrest, 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 promoter in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Smooth Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered 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 meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging 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 departed on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of His Immense Popularity in India
Messi's fame is due to more than his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
