Fulham Were Apparently Relegated Because Of A Michael Jackson Statue

    The statue was taken down by the club’s new owner in September.

    Richard James
    by Richard James

    BuzzFeed News Reporter, UK

    Fulham were relegated to the Championship following a 4-1 defeat to Stoke last weekend.

    Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport

    It brought Fulham’s 13-year stay in the Premier League to an end.

    Football pundits have debated endlessly over what has caused the south-west London side's slump in form this season, but former owner Mohamed Al Fayed believes he knows the true cause...

    Michael Jackson.

    Ian Walton / Getty

    In 2011, Al Fayed erected a statue of Jackson outside Craven Cottage, Fulham’s ground, after claiming the King of Pop loved the club.

    Jackson watched a Fulham game against Wigan with Al Fayed in 1999.

    "He loved Fulham and he wanted to attend all of the matches," the then-owner said.

    "People will queue to come and visit it from all over the UK and it is something that I and everybody else should be proud of."

    However, the statue was unpopular with some fans, who claimed it made them a laughing stock, and in September last year new owner Shahid Khan removed it.

    Ian Walton / Getty

    Now Fayed has claimed that decision led to Fulham’s relegation.

    When the new owner decided to move it I said 'Fine, it is a lucky thing, you will regret it later'.Now the new owner will regret it because I warned him. I said 'You will pay with blood for that' because it was something loved by people.It was a big mistake but he paid for it now. He's been relegated and if he wakes up he'll ask for Michael Jackson again and I'll say 'No way'.

    Al Fayed sold Fulham to Khan, who also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars, last July, after 16 years as owner.

    Clive Mason / Getty

    During his time at the club, Fulham went from the third tier of English football to the Premier League and reached the Europe League final in 2010, where they were beaten 2-1 in extra time by Atletico Madrid.

    He now claims if Khan has “lost hope” in relegated Fulham, he will buy the club back, but only if offered at half price.

    Ian Walton / Getty

    He has yet to confirm whether he would bring the Jackson statue back if he returned.

    It currently lives in the National Football Museum in Manchester.