Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Unrest in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources stated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.
A Busy Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a series of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely presented a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely 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, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.
"Poor management of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."
The ruckus, which made international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The event organiser in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Successful Visits in Other Cities
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star online and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of Messi's Immense Appeal in India
Messi's popularity is due to more than his lengthy 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 called the beautiful game.
