🔗 Share this article Peaceful Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos Messi concluded his India tour with an engagement at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata. On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there. A Packed Itinerary Across Several Metropolises Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a string of brand 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 digitally unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Chaotic Start in Football-Loving Kolkata A supporter holds a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after disappointed 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 thousands of devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event. However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent. "Poor management of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence." The unrest, which made international headlines, marred 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 police custody. Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with children at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend on social media and in media interviews. Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely presented a towering statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football 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 pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of Messi's Immense Popularity in India Messi's appeal is due to more than his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
Messi concluded his India tour with an engagement at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata. On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there. A Packed Itinerary Across Several Metropolises Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a string of brand 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 digitally unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Chaotic Start in Football-Loving Kolkata A supporter holds a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after disappointed 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 thousands of devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event. However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent. "Poor management of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence." The unrest, which made international headlines, marred 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 police custody. Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with children at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend on social media and in media interviews. Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely presented a towering statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football 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 pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of Messi's Immense Popularity in India Messi's appeal is due to more than his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.