Smooth Conclusion to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of 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, a multitude of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.
A Busy Schedule Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a troubled start after frustrated fans ripped up 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 witness the event.
However, most of them didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.
"Poor management of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."
The disturbance, 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 detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Peaceful Visits in Other Cities
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.
Messi also had meetings with several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these meetings, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were rumors 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 His Great Appeal in India
Messi's popularity comes not only from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
