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On Monday, thousands of supporters packed a stadium in the Indian capital despite heavy pollution, hoping for a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward. Their patience was rewarded as Messi appeared alongside teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, casually walking onto the pitch, kicking footballs into the stands, exchanging passes with a group of children, and signing autographs. The crowd erupted in chants of his name as the atmosphere remained orderly and celebratory.
Messi’s arrival in Delhi came after a delay to his flight from Mumbai due to fog, according to local media reports, forcing organisers to scale back parts of his itinerary. Even so, the Delhi event proceeded smoothly, offering a reassuring close to a tour that had come under international attention following violent scenes two days earlier in Kolkata.
The visit had begun before dawn on Saturday, when Messi landed in India to embark on what organisers described as a “GOAT tour,” his first trip to the country since 2011. His schedule included a series of promotional appearances across Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. Shortly after arriving in Kolkata, Messi virtually unveiled a towering 70-foot statue of himself at Salt Lake Stadium, a structure assembled over 27 days by a 45-member team in the eastern city.
What was meant to be a historic celebration of football, however, quickly spiralled out of control later that day. Thousands of fans, many of whom had paid up to 12,000 rupees for tickets, gathered at the stadium expecting to see the global star. Instead, Messi’s appearance was fleeting. Surrounded by officials and celebrities, he was ushered through a brief walk around the venue before being hurried away as tensions escalated.
Frustration among supporters erupted into violence, with angry fans tearing out seats and hurling objects toward the pitch. The disorder drew widespread condemnation and made headlines around the world. In a sharply worded editorial, Kolkata-based newspaper The Telegraph blamed poor planning, lack of coordination, and serious security lapses, describing the stadium as having turned into a “battlefield” after fans were denied even a clear view of Messi.
The fallout from the incident was swift. Police arrested the Kolkata event organiser, Satadru Dutta, and a city court later remanded him to 14 days in police custody. Authorities said investigations were ongoing into the management failures that led to the chaos.
In contrast, Messi’s subsequent appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed without incident. Fans in both cities shared images and videos online, expressing joy at seeing the football legend in person. Media interviews echoed similar sentiments, highlighting smooth organisation and tighter security arrangements.
As Messi departed India, the tour stood as a tale of two realities: the overwhelming passion for football that draws massive crowds, and the critical importance of planning and crowd control when global icons are involved. While the Delhi finale restored a sense of order and celebration, the violence in Kolkata has raised serious questions about event management standards, leaving a lasting imprint on what was meant to be a triumphant return for one of football’s greatest figures.
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