India to take down Messi's giant statue due to safety worries

A 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata, India, is set to be taken down. Engineers raised safety concerns and reported that the statue was swaying in strong winds.

The statue was installed in December during Messi’s “GOAT tour” of India. It was meant to celebrate the Argentine football star.

But local authorities say they found structural issues after residents complained earlier this week.

Sharadwat Mukherjee, a state legislator from West Bengal, confirmed that engineers from the Public Works Department inspected the statue and found it unsafe. Mukherjee said, “The statue of the Argentine football legend was found [to be] unsafe.

“We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind.”

Officials mentioned that the statue’s location near a busy road and a subway line has made the removal plans more complicated. Mukherjee added, “It is easier said than done,” and noted that authorities are working on a plan to take it down and move it as soon as they can.

Local reports say that the fiberglass-and-iron structure has been temporarily stabilized with strong nylon ropes. Barricades have also been placed around the area to keep pedestrians and vehicles away.

A 45-member crew took 27 days to assemble the statue. It was unveiled virtually by Messi, who appeared on a video screen and activated a ceremonial switch.

Messi’s visit to Kolkata during the promotional tour also had crowd-control problems at Salt Lake Stadium.

Authorities are now looking for other sites where the statue could be set up again once it is made safe.