Ibrahimovic statue fenced off as Malmo fans vent fury

A blue plastic bag and a toilet seat hangs from the statue of the Swedish football player Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Malmo, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2019. A fence has been placed around a statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and security guards have been keeping watch after it was vandalized by Malmo soccer fans furious at the Swedish soccer star buying a stake in a rival club. (Andreas Hillergren/TT via AP)

MALMO, Sweden— A fence has been placed around a statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and security guards have been keeping watch after it was vandalized by Malmo football fans furious at the Swedish great for buying a stake in a rival club.

Ibrahimovic riled the fanbase of Malmo, the club where he started his career, by acquiring nearly 25% of Stockholm-based team Hammarby in his first move into football ownership.

Some angry Malmo supporters reacted by lighting fires at the base of a golden statue of the 38-year-old striker that was unveiled at his former club’s stadium last month. A discriminatory message was spray-painted in front of the monument, while a toilet seat was placed around one of the statue’s arms and a plastic bag put over its face.

Swedish newspapers reported Thursday that a fence with tarpaulin has been put around the statue and that three cars from a security firm were parked close by. They also reported a property of Ibrahimovic’s in Stockholm has been vandalized, with “Judas” among the things written on his front door.

Ibrahimovic has yet to comment on the reaction.