Football icon Lionel Messi’s statue, which towered 70ft, was torn down and hauled away in Kolkata on Monday because of safety issues. The large iron-and-fiberglass structure representing Messi holding the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy, had become a landmark along the VIP Road corridor.
It was decided following concerns from residents that the statue seemed to move in the wind during strong winds and storms, officials said. As monsoon season neared, officials were concerned that the building might become a hazard to pedestrians and drivers in the bustling area. Engineering teams and heavy duty cranes were brought in early in the morning to safely break down the installation, which was above a pedestrian walk under the road.
The statue was first unveiled at an India visit that was extensively publicised by the star and marketed as a tribute to one of football’s greatest players. The Sree Bhumi Sporting Club supported the project and former minister Sujit Bose also showed his keenness towards supporting the project.
The removal has also been the subject of political debate in the wake of the recent change in government in West Bengal. The BJP’s win in the state assembly elections has reportedly brought several projects and public installations linked to the previous government to a review. But officials insist that the decision was only made for safety reasons.
The decision would now be made to move the Messi statue to a less hazardous area where it can be put on display without any structural issues.