🔗 Share this article Calm Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour After Disorder in Kolkata Messi wrapped up his visit to India with an engagement at a stadium in Delhi on Monday. Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker. As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources reported, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there. An Intense Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday. Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India. Chaotic Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata A supporter holds a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after disappointed fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event. However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence." The unrest, 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Smooth Events in Other Cities Messi had a kickabout with kids at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions. Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely revealed a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi met Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these meetings, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings 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 traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Root of His Great Popularity in India Messi's popularity stems not just from his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
Messi wrapped up his visit to India with an engagement at a stadium in Delhi on Monday. Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker. As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources reported, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there. An Intense Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday. Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India. Chaotic Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata A supporter holds a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after disappointed fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event. However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence." The unrest, 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Smooth Events in Other Cities Messi had a kickabout with kids at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions. Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely revealed a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi met Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these meetings, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings 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 traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Root of His Great Popularity in India Messi's popularity stems not just from his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.