Smooth Conclusion to Lionel Messi's Visit to India Following Kolkata Chaos
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources reported, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.
An Intense Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a string of marketing 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 virtually presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after disappointed fans tore 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 countless devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness 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 rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."
The ruckus, which made 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 promoter in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Successful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.
Messi also had meetings with several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star 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 juggling 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Root of Messi's Vast Fame in India
Messi's popularity comes not only from his prolific international career and extensive 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 referred to as the beautiful game.
