United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic To Serve 3-Game Ban After Violent Conduct Charge

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been hit with a hefty punishment for his actions on Saturday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Tyrone Mings to Serve Bans for Violent Conduct

The 35-year-old Manchester United forward will serve a three-game suspension after the Swede was charged with violent conduct in Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League home tie against Bournemouth.

Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings will serve a ban of his own, a five-game suspension for his stamp on Ibrahimovic’s head at Old Trafford. The United star responded by elbowing Mings in the face when both jumped to head a cross moments later.

Both fouls escaped punishment at the time as referee Kevin Friend failed to notice them, but on Monday, a panel of three former elite officials brought the charges.

The English Football Association (FA) released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

“Zlatan Ibrahimovic will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after he admitted an FA charge of violent conduct and accepted the standard penalty.

“It follows an incident in or around the 44th minute of the game between Manchester United and AFC Bournemouth on Saturday (4 March 2017).

“The misconduct was not seen by the match officials at the time but caught on video.”

Ibrahimovic, United’s leading scorer, will therefore miss Monday’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-final at Chelsea, followed by Premier League games against Middlesbrough and West Brom. He is expected to return on April 4, when United host Everton.

The Swedish star has only missed one league game all season until now, a tie with Arsenal in November.

Englishman Mings, who will be 24 on Monday, contested his suspension— unlike Ibrahimovic— but an Independent Regulatory Commission also found Mings guilty of violent conduct. Thus, he will miss Premier League games against West Ham, Swansea, Southampton, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Ibrahimovic denied any intent to harm Mings, claiming the Bournemouth defender “jumped into my elbow,” although he seemed prepared to accept any form of punishment when speaking after Saturday’s game.

“I respect every decision,” he said. “I am not here to attack anybody. My purpose was not to do that. The game is hard.”

SWANSEA, WALES – NOVEMBER 06: : Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Manchester United celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Phil Jones (l) during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Manchester United at Liberty Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena