SINGAPORE – Socialite Kim Lim has engaged Valencia CF supporters in a war of words on social media.
The Spanish football club is owned by Ms Lim’s billionaire father, Peter Lim, who bought it for 420 million euros in October 2014.
The online saga started when Ms Lim, who is in her early 20s, posted a photo bearing the logo of English club Manchester United on Instagram on Saturday (Nov 19).
“So sweet… my number is 23 and he took this for me. (Love) you pa,” she wrote.
Valencia fans took issue with what they saw as support for another team, and criticised Ms Lim and her father in comments on the Instagram post.
Most of the comments are in Spanish. One post in English by a user known as khrisorval said: “In my opinion is a big lack of respect (to) show this picture, mainly if you take (into) account (Valencia CF) situation.”
The six-time La Liga champion has fallen to 16th place out of 20 clubs in the Spanish league.
Fans even booed owner Lim at a home game where they drew with Granada, which is at the bottom of the league, ESPN reported this week.
The spat did not end with that one post. Since Sunday, Ms Lim uploaded six other pointed posts directed at the irate fans.
One of them said the fans were “crazy and stupid to think they can control or have any say over my actions”.
She also said that watching another team play did not mean she was not supporting Valencia.
“I am not a pushover. Don’t try me,” she wrote in capital letters.
In another post, she said she can post what she wants on her own Instagram account.
“Ask us to leave as much but the fact is we still own the club so… yeah haha. Deal with it and move on,” she wrote in English and Spanish on Monday.
She also posted another photo of a Manchester United sign at the Old Trafford Stadium, apparently to prove her point that she can post what she wants.
“My view while dealing with crazy people…” she wrote.
Ms Lim’s supporters have also chimed in. One, known as darrenmouku on Instagram, said: “They do not know that you’re actually scouting and prospecting the possibility of signing Wayne Rooney to Valencia CF. Let them be, they will rejoice at this news once they know.”
On Wednesday (Nov 23), she posted a photo that said “Shut up”.
Mr Lim was popular with supporters when he first bought the club, as it went on to win game after game.
His daughter, Kim, was recognised on the streets of Valencia and fans went to her for photos, a Straits Times report said in April 2015.
But Mr Lim’s popularity plummeted as the team fell in the rankings. Coach Gary Neville was sacked in March after he oversaw just three wins in 16 league games.
His successor Pako Ayesteran also left in September. The team is now managed by former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli.
chuimin@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Nov 24, 2016.
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