Ibrahimovic braced for three-game ban
MANCHESTER UNITED top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tyrone Mings of Bournemouth are facing three-match bans after their personal battle at Old Trafford turned ugly yesterday.
Mings appeared to stamp on Ibrahimovic’s head as he lay on the floor at the end of the first half.
From a corner moments later, United’s Swedish star caught his opponent on the side of the head with his elbow, leaving him groggy and requiring treatment for several minutes. Neither was punished by referee Kevin Friend for their unsavoury behaviour in a draw that saw Ibrahimovic miss a penalty, but the Football Association are likely to review video evidence and bring charges.
Ibrahimovic could miss next Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea and league games with West Brom and Middlesbrough as a result.
United captain Wayne Rooney went on television within minutes of the final whistle to lay the blame on Mings.
‘I don’t think the referee saw him try to stamp on Zlatan’s head. I was right there,’ said Rooney.
‘Everyone likes to go in and tackle but to try to stamp on a player’s head is wrong in football. There’s no place for that and I am sure the FA will look at it and there will be a punishment.’
However, Jose Mourinho knows it will be politically impossible for Mings to be punished without his 26-goal talisman also being brought to book, and he made a plea for both incidents to be brushed away.
‘Zlatan is a big man like I am. We’ve spent too many years in football. We are not the kind of generation that goes to the media and cries about what happens like: “Oh, that guy has pushed me.”,’ said Mourinho.
Mings said about the alleged stamp: ‘I would never do that. It’s not in my game. Hard and fair is how I tackle, but off the ball is not part of my game.
Zlatan responded: ‘You have the TV, you can see the images. I jump up and jump high and he jumps into my elbow.’
The sense of farce increased when Friend gave a second yellow card to Bournemouth’s Andrew Surman for pushing Ibrahimovic in the aftermath.
Marcos Rojo diverted Antonio Valencia’s shot home to give United the lead on 23 minutes.
However, Josh King levelled from the penalty spot after Phil Jones hauled down Marc Pugh. Bournemouth dug deep and held on to gain their first-ever point at Old Trafford.