Smooth End to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos
Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis SuĂĄrez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch â kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs â the crowd roared his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources indicated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.
A Busy Schedule Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a packed schedule in India, attending a string of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Troubled Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state â of which Kolkata is the capital â and a multitude of adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, many didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent.
"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans â not allowed even a sight of Messi â "vented their anger by resorting to violence."
The disturbance, 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.
Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in press interactions.
Messi also had meetings with several politicians and celebrities â 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 gatherings in stadiums and juggling 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of Messi's Immense Appeal in India
Messi's appeal is due to more than his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football â he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona â but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
