The reaction of Malmo fans to their team’s greatest player becoming a part-owner of Stockholm-based Hammarby has been vicious and relentless. In Malmo, a fence with tarpaulin has been placed around a nearly 3-meter (10-foot) golden statue of Ibrahimovic — unveiled only last month — that takes pride of place outside the southern city’s soccer stadium. That’s because angry Malmo fans lit fires at the base of the statue and spray-painted a discriminatory message in front. He always remembered his roots, though, and was proud when the Swedish Football Association commissioned the statue of Ibrahimovic outside Malmo’s stadium. With all due respect to the king.”A month later, the statue is under police protection, Ibrahimovic’s legacy in Malmo seemingly in ruins.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 28, 2019 18:00 UTC