Peaceful End to Messi's India Tour Following Unrest in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, after a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources indicated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged 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 promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a troubled start after angry fans ripped up 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 thousands of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, most of them failed to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.
"Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."
The unrest, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The promoter in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.
Messi also met several political figures 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 meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds 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 Source of His Great Fame in India
Messi's appeal comes not only from his prolific international career and broad 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.