A 70-foot statue of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi is set to be dismantled in Kolkata, India, less than six months after it was erected during his 'GOAT' Tour. The structure, which bears only a passing resemblance to the 38-year-old World Cup winner raising the trophy, had already faced criticism for its appearance when unveiled last December.
The golden-coloured statue was observed swaying in the wind, prompting authorities to secure it with ropes around its shoulders. Engineers from the West Bengal government's Public Works Department inspected the statue on Monday and declared it unsafe. 'We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind,' said Sharadwat Mukherjee, a state lawmaker, to AFP.
The statue, located beside a busy road in central Kolkata, will be removed as soon as possible, though the process has proved challenging. 'Removal has proved easier said than done. We're planning to remove the statue at the earliest opportunity,' Mukherjee added.
The monument was commissioned by a local football club whose president, Sujit Bose, was later arrested on corruption charges. Bose served as a lawmaker under the previous state government. The statue was virtually unveiled by Messi himself, who activated it via a remote control on a video screen during his India tour with Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.
That visit to Kolkata turned violent when fans tore up seats and hurled them onto the pitch at Salt Lake Stadium. Thousands of supporters, who paid up to £100 or more, complained that the 2022 World Cup champion's appearance lasted only about 20 minutes, far too brief for their expectations.
