MALMO: After weeks of vandalism, the statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic has finally been overturned.
The 500-kilogram monument, which is located outside Malmo’s soccer stadium, was cut off at the feet, causing it to topple over onto a wire fence overnight Sunday. A dark Sweden football t-shirt was draped over the statue’s face.
Ibrahimovic, who recently joined Italian side AC Milan , angered fans of his boyhood club, Malmo, in November when he bought a stake in one of its Swedish title rivals, Hammarby, and outlined his desire to make the Stockholm-based team “the best in Scandinavia.”
Hours after that was announced, the statue of Ibrahimovic — unveiled in October by the Swedish Football Association to commemorate one of the country’s greatest players — was attacked, with vandals attempting to set it on fire and writing racist graffiti next to it.
Last month, there was an attempt to saw off the legs of the bronze statue, which was sprayed silver while its nose was also cut off.
“I can understand that there is a disappointment in Malmo, but it crosses all boundaries when you vandalize the statue in the way that has happened,” Hakan Sjostrand, secretary general of the Sweden’s FA, said in comments reported by Swedish news agency TT.
The statue is being removed but is set to be put back up. There have been no reports of any arrests being made.
Statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic overturned in Malmo
https://arab.news/j7zta
Statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic overturned in Malmo
- The statue is being removed but is set to be put back up
- There have been no reports of any arrests being made
Dubai Basketball stun Greek giants Olympiacos to win in overtime
- The score of 108-98 came in round 26 of EuroLeague and was the 12th victory of their debut season
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball recorded the 12th EuroLeague win of their debut season with a 108-98 overtime thriller against Olympiacos at Coca-Cola Arena.
From the first whistle, Dubai played with intent in front of the 6,500-strong crowd. Defensive pressure, fast breaks and fearless shot-making gave the home side early control, but like all big European basketball nights, the drama was far from over.
Olympiacos battled back, the intensity rose, and a last-second three-pointer sent the game into overtime, briefly silencing the crowd. But supported by one of the strongest home crowds Dubai has seen this season, the team rose to the occasion in the final five minutes.
Dubai Basketball’s head coach, Jurica Golemac, highlighted the importance of the home crowd’s support and said: “It was a very intensive game. A lot of physicality, a lot of energy. We were up and we didn’t lose the passion. We showed character in the end to win this game.
“Real Madrid is in two days. We’re playing at home, and hopefully even more fans will come. That support is very important for us — everyone feels like a family here.”
Dubai responded with composure and authority in the extra period, locking in defensively and moving the ball with confidence to close the game with a statement finish on a night that demanded character.
Mfiondu Kabengele dominated inside with a powerful double-double, while Dwayne Bacon and McKinley Wright delivered when it mattered most. Aleksa Avramovic set the tone early on both ends, and the collective effort once again highlighted Dubai’s growing identity — fearless at home, united under pressure.
With the regular season entering its defining stretch the Coca-Cola Arena continues to be a fortress, and belief around the team continues to grow as the race for the EuroLeague post-season heats up.
The next home game brings one of the most famous teams in the world to the Coca-Cola Arena, when Real Madrid will play Dubai at home for the first time on Thursday, Feb. 5.
