This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-48371633
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| George Best statue mocked by fans | George Best statue mocked by fans |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| He's up there with Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mo Salah - in more ways than one. | He's up there with Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mo Salah - in more ways than one. |
| A new statue of George Best - the Northern Ireland and Manchester United football great - has provoked strong reactions from fans and critics alike. | A new statue of George Best - the Northern Ireland and Manchester United football great - has provoked strong reactions from fans and critics alike. |
| The main complaint is that the sculpture, which was revealed on Wednesday, does not bear any resemblance to the Belfast boy. | The main complaint is that the sculpture, which was revealed on Wednesday, does not bear any resemblance to the Belfast boy. |
| The often cruel social media sphere has not held back. | The often cruel social media sphere has not held back. |
| One popular response was that rather than looking like Best, the statue at Windsor Park in Belfast looks more like his former Northern Ireland teammate Pat Jennings, who unveiled it. | One popular response was that rather than looking like Best, the statue at Windsor Park in Belfast looks more like his former Northern Ireland teammate Pat Jennings, who unveiled it. |
| Other posters on social media offered their submissions as to who it resembled. | Other posters on social media offered their submissions as to who it resembled. |
| A few suggested BBC Sport NI's much-loved football commentator Jackie Fullerton - must be the hair - while others saw former England striker Kevin Keegan. | A few suggested BBC Sport NI's much-loved football commentator Jackie Fullerton - must be the hair - while others saw former England striker Kevin Keegan. |
| There was also a suggestion that it wasn't unlike the clay bust modelled of Lionel Richie in the video for his song Hello. | |
| That wasn't the only comment on a musical theme... | That wasn't the only comment on a musical theme... |
| And one more thing - one wit thought the statue looked like everyone's favourite the TV detective Columbo. | And one more thing - one wit thought the statue looked like everyone's favourite the TV detective Columbo. |
| Whoever you think it looks like, the feeling of many fans has been something like this... | Whoever you think it looks like, the feeling of many fans has been something like this... |
| It is not the first time a sculpture depicting a football player has raised eyebrows, with recent efforts at recreating the stars of the game in bronze being panned by fans. | It is not the first time a sculpture depicting a football player has raised eyebrows, with recent efforts at recreating the stars of the game in bronze being panned by fans. |
| Who could forget the crooked smile of Ronaldo immortalised in bronze at Madeira Airport in Portugal? | Who could forget the crooked smile of Ronaldo immortalised in bronze at Madeira Airport in Portugal? |
| Emanuel Santos's original bust sparked a wave of memes questioning its resemblance to the player after it was placed on display. | Emanuel Santos's original bust sparked a wave of memes questioning its resemblance to the player after it was placed on display. |
| He did get a second chance, which turned out much better, but his original was replaced by one by another sculptor. | He did get a second chance, which turned out much better, but his original was replaced by one by another sculptor. |
| It was hard to know exactly how Andy Murray felt about the statue of him dressed as a Chinese warrior ahead of the Shanghai Masters in 2011. | It was hard to know exactly how Andy Murray felt about the statue of him dressed as a Chinese warrior ahead of the Shanghai Masters in 2011. |
| The famously inscrutable Scot stood stoically beside the statue for a picture. | The famously inscrutable Scot stood stoically beside the statue for a picture. |
| A wild-haired statue (a common theme here) of Argentina's World Cup-winning legend Maradona was unveiled in India 2017. | A wild-haired statue (a common theme here) of Argentina's World Cup-winning legend Maradona was unveiled in India 2017. |
| Its likeness raised eyebrows but the man himself was happy with it. | Its likeness raised eyebrows but the man himself was happy with it. |
| Mo Salah didn't fare much better last year, when this curious effort of the Liverpool star went on display in Sharm el-Sheikh in his home country. | |
| It depicts the Egyptian with his arms out wide in the goal scoring celebration he is known for. | It depicts the Egyptian with his arms out wide in the goal scoring celebration he is known for. |
| But some suggested it looks more like singer Leo Sayer or Marv the burglar from the film Home Alone. | But some suggested it looks more like singer Leo Sayer or Marv the burglar from the film Home Alone. |
| Not all sculptures are subjected to a public mauling, though. | Not all sculptures are subjected to a public mauling, though. |
| If you are ever in Coleraine in County Londonderry, take a look at the bronze Bertie Peacock in the town centre. | If you are ever in Coleraine in County Londonderry, take a look at the bronze Bertie Peacock in the town centre. |
| More than 10 years old, it's a perfect likeness of the ex-Celtic and Northern Ireland player. | More than 10 years old, it's a perfect likeness of the ex-Celtic and Northern Ireland player. |