Football player Lionel Messi concluded a three-day tour of India with an event in Delhi on Monday, following initial disturbances in Kolkata.
Delhi Event
On Monday, individuals gathered at a Delhi stadium. Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, engaged with attendees by walking the pitch, kicking balls into the stands, passing with children, and signing autographs. Chants of his name were reported from the crowd. Messi's flight to Delhi from Mumbai experienced delays due to fog and visibility issues, leading to adjustments in his schedule.
Kolkata Incidents
Messi's tour commenced on Saturday. Prior to an event at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, he virtually unveiled a 70ft statue of himself. The event at Salt Lake Stadium subsequently experienced disturbances. Reports indicated that attendees damaged seating and threw objects towards the pitch. Football has a notable following in West Bengal state, where Kolkata is the capital. Some attendees had purchased tickets at prices up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133). However, Messi was escorted by officials and other public figures during his brief stadium appearance and departed rapidly as the crowd's behavior escalated. An editorial in Kolkata's The Telegraph newspaper cited management deficiencies, coordination issues, and security lapses as factors contributing to the situation, stating that attendees engaged in acts of violence after limited visibility of Messi. The incidents received international media attention. The event organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Subsequent Tour Stops
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai proceeded without reported incidents. Attendees at these locations expressed satisfaction regarding his presence.