Razeen Gutta
After the nose was stolen from a Zlatan Ibrahimovic statue in Sweden, a group of angry Malmo supporters have begun auctioning replica noses to ridicule the football star.
While there is now no love lost between Ibrahimovic and the Malmo’s fanbase, this wasn’t always the case.
Ibrahimovic, who has been a star of European football for over 20 years, started his career at the small Swedish club in 1999 and for years he was revered as their biggest legend.
A statue of the superstar was even erected at the request of the Swedish Football Association and placed at the football stadium in Malmo.
But the love story quickly turned sour when the current AC Milan striker bought a stake in Stockholm rivals Hammarby in 2019 and claimed he would turn them into Scandinavia’s biggest football club.
The nose of his statue was cut off by outraged fans, and shortly after his feet followed.
By January 2020 the statue had collapsed and had to be removed. Ibrahimovic’s nose was never recovered.
Now, a group of Malmo supporters have produced three replicas of the nose to sell in order to draw attention to the sidelining of fans across the footballing world.
“Ibrahimovic chose money over love of his hometown,” said the fans in a statement.
“Our aim is a football world where the supporters are at the centre and no one should have to see their club bought up and changed overnight.”
Bids for the fake noses have so far reached $600 (R9,000) online.
Image source: @APNews
