Calm End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India After Kolkata Chaos
Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis SuΓ‘rez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch β sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs β the crowd chanted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources stated, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.
A Packed Agenda Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.
Disastrous Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after disappointed fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state β of which Kolkata is the capital β and a multitude of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at 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 quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.
"Poor management of a hyped-up event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans β not allowed even a sight of Messi β "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."
The disturbance, 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 organizer in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Peaceful Events in Other Cities
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend on social media and in media interviews.
Messi also met several politicians and celebrities β film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of His Great Fame in India
Messi's appeal is due to more than his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football β he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona β but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
