Lionel Messi's India Tour Concludes
Footballer Lionel Messi completed a three-day tour of India, which included events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. The tour concluded in Delhi on Monday.
Delhi Event Summary
On Monday, thousands of individuals gathered at a stadium in Delhi to observe Messi, who was accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. During the event, Messi engaged with attendees by kicking balls into the stands, passing with children, and signing autographs. Chants of his name were reported from the crowd. Earlier, local media indicated that Messi's flight to Delhi from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog and reduced visibility, resulting in adjustments to his itinerary.
Kolkata Incidents
The tour commenced in Kolkata on Saturday. Prior to an event at Salt Lake Stadium, Messi virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, which was constructed over 27 days by a 45-person team.
The event at Salt Lake Stadium subsequently faced challenges. Attendees, some of whom had paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133), reportedly engaged in behavior such as ripping seats and throwing items towards the pitch. Reports indicated that many attendees were unable to clearly view Messi, who was surrounded by officials, celebrities, and security personnel during his brief appearance. As a result, Messi was quickly escorted from the venue due to escalating concerns.
An editorial in Kolkata's The Telegraph newspaper criticized the event's organization, citing "poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of coordination," and security lapses. The newspaper described the stadium's atmosphere as a "battlefield" where fans "vented their anger by indulging in violence." These events garnered international media attention. Police have since arrested the event organizer in Kolkata, Satadru Dutta, who has been remanded to 14 days in police custody by a city court.
Other Engagements
Visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai proceeded without reported incidents. During these stops, attendees expressed satisfaction with seeing Messi. In Mumbai, Messi also met with Indian cricket figure Sachin Tendulkar.