Authorities in India removed a giant statue of football star Lionel Messi on Monday after strong winds caused it to sway and raised safety concerns.
Officials used hydraulic cranes and ropes to dismantle the 21-metre statue in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. Workers loaded the structure onto an open-top flatbed truck and moved it from the site. Authorities said they will store the statue in a government warehouse until they decide on a safer location.
The gold-coloured statue showed Messi lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy. Officials unveiled it in December during Messi’s highly publicised GOAT tour of India. The event attracted large crowds and drew wide media coverage.
Messi is expected to captain Argentina national football team at the upcoming World Cup. The United States, Canada, and Mexico will jointly host the tournament.
The statue drew fresh attention after a political change in West Bengal. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party won the state elections. The party defeated the opposition Trinamool Congress and formed a new government.
Reports said authorities approved the statue during the tenure of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The new BJP sports minister criticised the installation and described it as unsuitable for the area.
India is a global powerhouse in cricket but continues to struggle in international football. The country currently ranks 142nd in the fifa standings. Despite limited success, football remains India’s second most popular sport, according to research by Nielsen.
