🔗 Share this article Peaceful Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India After Disorder in Kolkata Messi concluded his visit to India with an event at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates 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 shouted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports stated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there. An Intense Schedule Spanning Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Troubled Start in Football-Crazy Kolkata An admirer shows a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a troubled start after angry fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event. However, the majority 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 quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "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 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. Successful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with youngsters at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews. Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi virtually revealed a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi met Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children. There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of His Immense Appeal in India Messi's appeal comes not only from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
Messi concluded his visit to India with an event at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates 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 shouted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports stated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there. An Intense Schedule Spanning Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Troubled Start in Football-Crazy Kolkata An admirer shows a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a troubled start after angry fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event. However, the majority 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 quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "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 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. Successful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with youngsters at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews. Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi virtually revealed a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi met Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children. There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of His Immense Appeal in India Messi's appeal comes not only from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.