Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tyrone Mings both face retrospective FA bans after their “battle” at Old Trafford today.
Manchester United drew 1-1 with 10-man Bournemouth and were left ruing a missed Ibrahimovic penalty and some late profligacy from Paul Pogba.
With the spoils being shared, it was the hosts that were left more frustrated than Eddie Howe’s side.
Perhaps that is why Mings came out after the game and tried to make light of his stamp on the head of Ibrahimovic. It was a rash act that led to some fierce retaliation from the Swede.
It all kicked off https://t.co/YDbaP3PY4q
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 4, 2017
Asked about the alleged stamp, Mings told Sky Sports: “Not at all. I would never do that. That’s not in my game. Hard and fair is how I like to tackle but off the ball stuff like that is not part of my game.”
The BBC caught up with Ibrahimovic after the match and eventually got his take on events. He said, “Listen, what happens on the field, stays on the field. I’m not a player who will talk afterwards or attack somebody.”
His recollection of his elbow landing flush on Ming’s face is in contrast with the television pictures. Pressed on the matter, he said:
“I don’t know. I felt somebody… listen, you have the TV. You can see the images and what happened.
“In my situation, I jump up, I jump high and at the same time I protect myself and, unlucky, he jumps into me. Yeah, he jumps into my elbow.
“On many times, these occasions happen and I hope he didn’t get injured.”
Whether or not the FA take Ibrahimovic at his word is a different matter. Both he and Mings could well be in for a spell on the sidelines.
