Al Fayed: Fans can 'go to hell' if they don't like Jackson statue

Fulham chairman Mohammed Al Fayed has told fans they can “go to hell” if they do not appreciate the new Michael Jackson statue at Craven Cottage.

Al Fayed, a close friend of the late performer, has caused controversy after placing the tribute to Jackson outside the Cottagers’ stadium.

The statue was commissioned following Jackson’s death in June 2009 and was due to be erected at Harrods before Al Fayed sold the Knightsbridge store.

Jackson’s links to Fulham are tenuous – he watched a game there as a guest of Al Fayed in 1999 – while the singer was also dogged by controversy during his lifetime.

But Al Fayed has refuted claims that the memorial is bizarre and lashed out at fans that have spoken against it.

“Why is it bizarre?” he said after yesterday’s unveiling. “Football fans love it.

“If some stupid fans don’t understand and appreciate such a gift they can go to hell.

“I don’t want them to be fans. 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.”