Peaceful Conclusion to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports indicated, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.
A Packed Agenda Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a troubled start after disappointed 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 thousands of devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, many failed to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight 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 dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The event organiser in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend on social media 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 acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and dribbling 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of His Immense Fame in India
Messi's popularity is due to more than his long international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
