Smooth End to Messi's India Tour After Kolkata Chaos
Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis SuΓ‘rez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch β booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs β the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports stated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.
An Intense Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after disappointed fans ripped up seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state β of which Kolkata is the capital β and thousands of ardent supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans β denied even a glimpse of Messi β "vented their anger by engaging in violence."
The unrest, which grabbed international headlines, cast a shadow over 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Successful Events in Other Cities
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in press interactions.
Messi also met several political figures and celebrities β Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football 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 Reason of Messi's Immense Appeal in India
Messi's fame 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 emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
