AC Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic criticized Lakers star LeBron James and others on Thursday for their activism in what the former LA Galaxy star called ‘political’.
In an interview with UEFA for Discovery + in Sweden on Thursday, the forward said frankly that while admiring James’s talent, it is a “mistake” for athletes to get out of their jobs and get involved socially and politically.
[LeBron] He’s phenomenal at what he does, but I don’t like it when people have a certain status, they get into politics at the same time, “Ibrahimovic said.” Do what you are good at. Do the category you do. I play football because I am the best football. “
“I don’t do politics. If I were a political politician, I would do politics. That’s the first mistake people make when they become famous and gain a certain status. Stay out of it. Just do what you do best, because that’s what you do. not the case. doesn’t look good. “
James has been a force for social change and political action. His organization More Than a Vote recruited more than 42,000 volunteers to serve in the November election, helped some regain their right to vote, and lobbied for the turnout of black and youthful voters.
He has also focused on his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
The I Promise school that opened in 2018 now has more than 450 students in grades three through six. When the school closed due to the pandemic, James and his team made sure that the students were served hot meals at home, including full Thanksgiving meals. This year an affordable housing project was started for 50 families. And this month, plans were announced for House Three Thirty (a nod to the Akron area code), detailing how James will offer things like accessible financial health programs for families, job training, and a community meeting space.
“I still know what I’m doing on the field and of course I give everything for the game,” James told The Associated Press in December. “But now I can make a bigger impact on the field than on the field. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play basketball. help them cultivate, inspire them, unite them, empower them. “
However, his candor has not always been well received. In February 2018, a prominent conservative commentator told him to “shut up and negotiate” in response to his “talking politics.”
Ibrahimovic has made headlines throughout his successful football career for acrobatic goals, bombastic bragging rights and controversy on the field.
In January, he was accused of racism following a clash with Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku during a Coppa Italia quarter-final match. Ibrahimovic, who often refers to himself in the third person, was accused of using offensive language during his dispute with Lukaku and later posted a message on social media reiterating his opposition to racism, with his coach later endorsing your claims.
This report uses information from The Associated Press.