London Soccer Fans Not Keen on New Jacko Statue

A new statue of Michael Jackson, incongruously erected outside London's 115-year-old Craven Cottage home stadium of the Fulham soccer team, is going to stay, regardless of its many critics, reports the Guardian. Fulham is owned by Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, who was friends with the famous singer. "Why is it bizarre?" asks Al Fayed. "Football fans love it. If some stupid fans don't understand and appreciate such a gift they can go to hell."

The statue was originally intended to go up next to Harrods Department Store, but Al Fayed sold the famous London emporium last year to Qatar Holdings. Critics say there is no reason for the statue because Jackson had no connection with team, save for attending a soccer game there once. "I don't want them to be fans," says Al Fayed. "If they don't understand and don't believe in things I believe in they can go to Chelsea, they can go to anywhere else." (More Mohamed al-Fayed stories.)