Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.

A Packed Itinerary Across Several Metropolises

Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.

Chaotic Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after frustrated fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is immensely 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, most of them were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.

"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."

The unrest, which captured 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 promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Smooth Events in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.

Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

There were rumors earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of Messi's Great Appeal in India

Messi's appeal is due to more than his lengthy international career and broad 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.