Calm End to Lionel Messi's India Tour After Disorder in Kolkata
Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis SuĂĄrez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch â booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures â the crowd shouted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports indicated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his visit there.
An Intense Agenda Across Multiple Cities
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.
Troubled Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state â of which Kolkata is the capital â and thousands of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile.
"Poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans â denied even a glimpse of Messi â "vented their anger by engaging in violence."
The ruckus, which captured 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 detention.
Smooth Visits 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 media interviews.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities â Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these interactions, Messi could be seen greeting large fan assemblies in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.
There were rumors 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of Messi's Immense Appeal in India
Messi's popularity stems not just from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football â he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona â but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
