Smooth Finish to Messi's Visit to India After Disorder in Kolkata
Soccer legend Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis SuΓ‘rez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch β kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures β the crowd shouted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources reported, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.
A Busy Itinerary Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a string of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Start in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after disappointed fans destroyed 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 countless adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.
"Poor management of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans β prevented from seeing of Messi β "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 called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The promoter in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Successful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend on social media and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities β film actor 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 reports earlier that Messi would have a meeting with 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 His Great Fame in India
Messi's fame is due to more than his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football β he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona β but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
