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Zlatan Ban

Jefferson ChaseApril 10, 2015

Prolific Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is never one to beat around the bush. But he went a bit too far with some recent post-match remarks and will now miss the next four Ligue 1 games.

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Fußball Frankreich Bordeaux gegen Paris St. Germain FC Chelsea Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Image: Getty Images/AFP/N.Tucat

Ligue 1's disciplinary committee handed down the ban on Thursday, after Ibrahimovic launched into an obscenity-filled rant following PSG's defeat to Bordeaux last month.

Ibrahimovic scored twise in the match but PSG lost 3-2 on a last-minute goal, denting their title hopes. On his way into the dressing room, the striker called the referee in the match an "a***ole" and said that France was a "**** country" that "didn't deserve" PSG in what can only be desribed as Monty Pythonesque English.

The incident outraged many in France. The far-right party Le Pen called for the 33-year-old Swede to leave the country while French sports minister Patrick Kanner demanded an apology.

Ibrahimovic obliged, writing on social media site Instagram: "Regarding my comments after tonight's game, they were not against France or the French people. I spoke about football. My sincere apologies if anyone was offended or took it the wrong way."

The league's displinary seems to have take some offence and slapped the mercurial striker with the ban, which means he will now miss four of his team's final seven league games. PSG also face Barcelona in the Champions League, with Ibrahimovic on a one-match ban for a red card.