🔗 Share this article Peaceful End to Messi's Visit to India After Disorder in Kolkata Messi concluded his visit to India with an appearance at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name. His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources stated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there. An Intense Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a succession of promotional 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 remotely unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Disastrous Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata A fan shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after angry fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless ardent supporters had paid 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 short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence." The disturbance, which grabbed international headlines, marred 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 detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Successful Events in Other Cities Messi played football with kids at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in media interviews. Messi also had meetings with 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 virtually presented a towering statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children. There were reports earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Root of Messi's Immense Popularity in India Messi's popularity is due to more than his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
Messi concluded his visit to India with an appearance at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name. His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources stated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there. An Intense Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a succession of promotional 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 remotely unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Disastrous Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata A fan shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after angry fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless ardent supporters had paid 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 short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence." The disturbance, which grabbed international headlines, marred 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 detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Successful Events in Other Cities Messi played football with kids at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in media interviews. Messi also had meetings with 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 virtually presented a towering statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children. There were reports earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Root of Messi's Immense Popularity in India Messi's popularity is due to more than his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.