Calm Finish to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media stated, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.
An Intense Agenda Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after disappointed fans tore seats and threw 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 witness the event.
However, many didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.
"Poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."
The unrest, which made 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 organizer in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Successful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.
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 crowds 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 traveled abroad on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of His Vast Popularity in India
Messi's fame stems not just 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 referred to as the beautiful game.
