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PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic handed four-match ban for insulting officials

The French league’s disciplinary commission has banned the Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic for four matches following his criticism of a referee last month.

PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss four games after his outburst against officials at Bordeaux last month
PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss four games after his outburst against officials at Bordeaux last month Reuters/John Sibley Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY
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“In 15 years, I have never seen such a referee. In this shit country, the country doesn’t deserve PSG” said the 33 year-old Swedish striker after Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-2 loss at Bordeaux in the championship last month.

Ibrahimovic comments were “rude and insulting” said Sébastien Deneux president of the Professional Football League (LFP) – in fact, it has even moved French politics.

Amid the political furor, Ibrahimovic quickly made a video apology for the comments. But it was to no avail.

The suspension came on Thursday - a day after the star striker hit a brilliant hat-trick in a 4-1 annihilation of Saint-Etienne which secured their berth in the final of the French Cup on 30 May.

The ban will come into effect on Monday midnight, leaving Ibrahimovic eligible for PSG’s League Cup final against Bastia on Saturday at the Stade de France.

With PSG leading Ligue Un by one point, Ibrahimovic will miss the championship games against Nice, Lille, Metz and Nantes but he should return for the last three matches of the season.

Ibrahimovic will absent from Wednesday's uefa Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona – after being sent off in the second leg of the last 16 against Chelsea last month.

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