Whirling around red-sinner Zlatan Ibrahimovic: The eccentric Swede is said to have insulted referee Fabio Maresca before his dismissal in the 3-1 (2-0) of AC Milan at Parma Calcio. According to media reports, the word “bastard” was used, but Ibrahimovic speaks of a misunderstanding.
What happened? After a foul on the former Bundesliga professional Hakan Calhanoglu, there was an exchange between the referee and Ibrahimovic. “I don’t care what you say,” Maresca is said to have called out to the great Swede. According to Gazetta dello Sport, he replied: “That seems strange to me”, ie “Mi sembra strano”. But Maresca understood: “Be un bastardo”, something like: “You are a bastard”.
Then the referee pulled out red (60th). It was the tenth straight expulsion in Ibrahimovic’s club career, five times he saw yellow and red.
Coach strengthens Ibrahimovic’s back
Trainer Stefano Pioli defended him. “I spoke to Zlatan. He argued with the referee, but he wasn’t disrespectful and certainly didn’t offend him,” he said: “Ibra’s last sentence to Maresca was: ‘So you don’t care what I say?’ “
Milan held the Champions League course with the three. The ex-Frankfurt Ante Rebic (8th), Franck Kessie (44th) and Rafael Leao (90th + 4) met. Parma is penultimate in the table in acute danger of relegation, and Riccardo Gagliolo (66th) did not change anything.
Sport-Informations-Service (SID)
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