Peaceful Conclusion to Messi's India Tour Following Kolkata Chaos
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.
A Packed Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, attending a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.
"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."
The unrest, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.
Messi also met several political figures 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 engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football 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 Root of Messi's Great Fame in India
Messi's appeal is due to more than his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
