A 70ft statue of Lionel Messi erected in Kolkata is to be taken down after engineers deemed it unsafe, less than six months after it was unveiled during the Argentinian's visit to India.
The golden-coloured statue, which depicts the 38-year-old footballer raising the World Cup trophy, had already drawn criticism for its resemblance. Authorities had thrown ropes around its shoulders after it was seen swaying in the wind.
Sharadwat Mukherjee, a state lawmaker, told AFP that engineers from the Public Works Department inspected the structure on Monday and found it to be "unsafe". The statue stands next to a busy road in the city centre, and no date has yet been confirmed for its removal.
"Removal has proved easier said than done," Mr Mukherjee said. "We're planning to remove the statue at the earliest opportunity."
The statue was commissioned by a local football club whose president, Sujit Bose, has since been taken into custody over corruption allegations. Mr Bose was a lawmaker under the state's previous government.
Messi virtually unveiled the statue by pressing a remote control during an appearance on a video screen, marking his India tour with Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. The visit turned violent when fans tore up seats at Salt Lake Stadium, with thousands who paid £100 or more complaining that the 2022 World Cup champion appeared for only about 20 minutes.
