Calm Finish to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Unrest in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources indicated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.
A Busy Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after disappointed fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless adoring supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, most of them didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.
"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" 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 grabbed international headlines, marred 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Smooth Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.
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 waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling 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 pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of Messi's Vast Appeal in India
Messi's fame 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 deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.