Calm Conclusion to Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata
Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis SuĆ”rez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch ā booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs ā the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports reported, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.
A Busy Itinerary Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state ā of which Kolkata is the capital ā and thousands of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans ā prevented from seeing of Messi ā "released their frustration by engaging in violence."
The unrest, which captured international headlines, overshadowed 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 detention.
Smooth Engagements in Other Cities
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities ā film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with 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 stems not just from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football ā he's the record scorer for Barcelona ā but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.