Off the wire
• Obama calls on Gulf countries to contribute to Libya's stability  • News Analysis: China cuts U.S. Treasuries holdings in efforts to diversify forex reserves  • Bayern give thanks to resigned club doctor Mueller-Wohlfahrt  • China, America could finish investment treaty talks under Obama administration: USTR  • Urgent: Oil prices retreat on profit-taking  • Pilots strike to put TAP at risk, warns Portuguese PM  • Hezbollah lashes out at Saudi-led military operation in Yemen  • Urgent: Gold up on U.S. inflation data  • BMW Motorrad sales hit record high in Q1  • Albania, Macedonia to intensify economic cooperation  
You are here: 　 Home

Ibrahimovic's 4-game Ligue 1 ban reduced to three

Xinhua, April 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Paris Saint-Germain were happy to learn on Friday that their star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Ligue 1 ban has been reduced from four matches to three.

The French Football League (LFP) accepted the proposals of the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) to shorten the ban.

Ibrahimovic was initially handed the suspension since he was caught on camera cursing against official Lionel Jaffredo after last month's 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux.

"In 15 years, I have never seen such a referee. In this shit country ... The country does not deserve the PSG," he said in partial sentences while walking towards the changing rooms.

His rant against France was heard and captured in footage by TV channel Canal Plus and the clip was posted online and soon went viral.

The 33-year-old Swede later issued an apology through the PSG's website, insisting he wasn't speaking about the nation as a whole.

With his ban being reduced to three games, Ibrahimovic will miss PSG's Ligue 1 games against Nice, Lille and Metz, and can be expected to return in action on May 2 when PSG visiting Nante.

He missed the Ligue 1 champions' 3-1 home defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday after having seen red in his last CL outing at Chelsea.

"Paris Saint-Germain is happy that the LFP has accepted the 17 April proposition by the French National Olympic and Sport Committee's conciliators, concerning the striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic," read a statement on PSG's website late on Friday.

"The player also confirms he has accepted the conciliatory proposition to reduce his suspension to three matches.

"The capital club takes this opportunity to invite the other actors of French football: club presidents and players, to focus on the end of the season rather than meddle in the matters of Paris Saint-Germain," it continued. "Paris Saint-Germain respects all clubs and refuses to pass comment on their affairs and asks the same in return."

Marseille playmaker Dimitri Payet also had his two-game sanction reduced to just one after aiming expletives at the closed door of the match officials' dressing room following a goalless draw with Lyon.

A statement from OM read: "Olympique de Marseille received on Friday an official notification that the LFP has accepted the proposal of the CNOSF concerning the suspension of Dimitri Payet. The CNOSF arbitrator proposed to reduce the suspension from two matches to one match with a further one-match ban suspended." Endite