Sweden football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic's statue fenced off as Malmo fans vent fury over Hammarby deal

Malmo: A fence has been placed around a statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and security guards have been keeping watch after it was vandalised by Malmo football fans furious at the Swedish great for buying a stake in a rival club. [caption id=“attachment_7713891” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] A blue plastic bag and a toilet seat hang from the statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Malmo. The text on the banner at the base reads: “Move immediately to Sodermalm.” AP Photo[/caption] Ibrahimovic riled the fanbase of Malmo , the club where he started his career, by acquiring nearly 25 percent of Stockholm-based team Hammarby in his first move into soccer 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 on 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 vandalised, with “Judas” among the things written on his front door. Ibrahimovic has yet to comment on the reaction.