Tyrone Mings is not prepared to go quietly as his five-game ban comes into effect.
On Monday, the Football Association charged Mings with violent conduct for his stamp on Manchester United centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic during a Premier League game on Saturday.
In a feisty duel between Ibrahimovic and the Bournemouth defender, the striker exacted revenge just moments later when his elbow met Mings’ head during an aerial challenge – an act for which Ibrahimovic has been banned for three games after accepting his FA charge.
Mings contested his but to no avail and he will now be unavailable for selection until mid-April.
And he’s not happy!
On Friday morning, Mings posted the below message to Twitter, where he doubled down on his stance that the contact he made with Ibrahimovic’s head was entirely accidental.
Mings claimed that he was simply trying to get back into his box to defend against a United attack and was in no way attempting to injure Ibrahimovic.
https://twitter.com/OfficialTM_3/status/840120998405922816
“I am extremely disappointed at the FA’s decision to ban me for five matches, following what was an accidental collision with Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” Mings wrote.
“At no time was there any intentional stamp or movement to suggest that.
“My foot did not change course and at no point did I try and move my foot towards his head. My only focus was to get back in and defend, conduct like that is not part of my game.
“So for people to deem that I could intentionally stamp on a fellow professional’s head is upsetting.
“It is an action that would not be acceptable in any walk of life, let alone on a football pitch, and one that would never cross my mind.
“I would like to thank AFC Bournemouth and all the club’s fans for their unwavering support this week,
“I can’t wait to get back to playing again and help the team retain out Premier League status for another season.”
