Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tyrone Mings charged with violent conduct after on-pitch scrum
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tyrone Mings have both been charged with alleged violent conduct by England's FA following separate incidents during Manchester United and Bournemouth's 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Saturday.
The two clashed twice in the first half, first with Mings appearing to stomp on Ibrahimovic's head, then with Ibrahimovic seemingly catching Mings with an elbow just before halftime. Neither player was sent off for their actions.
The FA says the incidents "were not seen by the match officials at the time but caught on video. Furthermore, The FA has submitted a claim that the standard punishment that would otherwise apply for the misconduct committed by the Bournemouth defender is 'clearly insufficient.' "
Ibrahimovic and Mings have until 6 p.m. on Tuesday to reply to their respective charges. Both players have denied wrongdoing in the matter to the press.
Speaking to the BBC immediately post-match, Ibrahimovic defended his actions.
"Listen, what happens on the field stays on the field," he said afterward. "I'm not someone who attacks someone off the field. You have the TV, you can see the images. I jump up and jump high and he jumps into my elbow."
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Zlatan maintained his innocence to MUTV after the match as well, saying: "Hopefully he is not injured. These situations happen. I go for the ball and I am unlucky that he jumps into my elbow. Nothing on purpose."
Mings was unmoved as well, defending his innocence and, interestingly, Zlatan's too.
"Not at all. I would never do that," he told Sky Sports. "That's not in my game. Hard and fair is how I like to tackle but off the ball stuff like that isn't in my game."
"He [Ibrahimovic] is who he is, he's a good player, he's a physical player," Mings continued. "I knew what sort of battle I was going to be in for coming here. And that's what we had all day, it was a battle. There was maybe an elbow when the ball came in after, I didn't see it, I felt it. But what happened after that with Surman getting sent off, I didn't see it."
Ibrahimovic is facing a three-match ban if punished, which would rule him out of United's FA Cup quarterfinal match against Chelsea, as well as Premier League matches against Middlesbrough and West Brom. Should he choose to contest the ruling, then the case will be heard by a panel before the end of this week. Mings also faces a minimum three-match ban if found guilty of violent conduct, but could see a more stern punishment for his role in the incident.
