Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘s statue in Sweden has been toppled with the ankles sawn off on Sunday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s statue in Sweden was toppled in the early hours of Sunday morning. JOHAN NILSSON/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images

It is the fourth time the statue has been vandalised over the last two months. The damage was discovered in the morning with the statue’s face covered with a shirt bearing the Swedish flag.

The statue outside of Malmo’s stadium was set on fire in November while marks were found on its feet in December, with the nose sawn off nine days later.

The incidents have been apparent responses to the former LA Galaxy striker becoming part-owner of Hammarby — rivals to Malmo, with whom Ibrahimovic, 38, started his career, and outlined his desire to make the Stockholm-based team “the best in Scandinavia.”

“I can understand that there is a disappointment in Malmo, but it crosses all boundaries when you vandalise 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.

Ibrahimovic returned to Serie A club AC Milan on a free transfer earlier this month after ending a two-year spell in MLS with LA Galaxy.

The former Sweden international spent two seasons with Milan from 2010-2012 where he won the league title and has vowed to “improve things” on his return to the San Siro. Milan sit 11th in the table after 17 matches.

Ibrahimovic scored in his first game back at the club in a 9-0 victory over non league side Rhodense on Friday. He is set to make his second debut when Milan host Sampdoria in the league on Monday.

Source – ESPN