A 70ft statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata, West Bengal, is being removed after the Public Works Department found its structural integrity severely compromised. Engineers inspected the fibreglass and iron monument Monday following resident complaints that it swayed dangerously in the wind. The statue was erected during Messi's 'GOAT' tour of India in December.

West Bengal state legislator Sharadwat Mukherjee confirmed the statue was unsafe and ordered immediate relocation. He acknowledged that its proximity to a busy road and subway makes removal "easier said than done." The structure has been secured with heavy-duty nylon ropes, and barricades now keep people and traffic clear of the site.

Authorities are exploring alternative locations for the monument, which took 27 days to assemble with a 45-person crew. Messi unveiled the statue virtually during his Kolkata visit, appearing on a video screen and pressing a remote control. That appearance at Salt Lake Stadium was overshadowed by violence.