Swedish football icon Zlatan Ibrahimović has been criticized for deciding to watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House rather than his country's World Cup opener.
Sweden thrashed Tunisia 5-1 near Monterrey in Mexico on Sunday but retired star Ibrahimović, their all-time top scorer, was otherwise engaged. US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday at the mixed martial arts competition on the White House lawn.
"Zlatan snubs Sweden - and turns up at UFC event," wrote Swedish newspaper Expressen.
"He should have prioritized our game," Expressen quoted midfielder Jesper Karlström as saying.
Malmö-born Ibrahimović, 44, had already caused controversy in Sweden with regards to this World Cup.
His father is from Bosnia and Herzegovina and his mother from Croatia. He has indicated he is supporting both the Balkan teams as well as Sweden.
"I know the Bosnian people, they are very proud people," he previously said, adding that he had "a few roots in Croatia too, so I'm supporting them in this tournament as well."
