Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been banned for four matches for comments made about a referee.
The Sweden international was called before the French Football League (LFP) disciplinary commission following his outburst after PSG's 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux.
He was caught on camera launching into a tirade against official Lionel Jaffredo while walking back to the dressing room, though was angered by suggestions his remarks were also derogatory to France as a whole and claimed his words had been "twisted".
In the video from March 15 Ibrahimovic, speaking in English but in partial sentences, can be heard saying: "He's an a******. Play 15 years, never seen referee this s*** country. Don't even deserve PSG should be in this country. F****** too good for all of you. Should be happy they exist."
The LFP disciplinary commission took a dim view and banned him for four games, although his suspension does not include this Saturday's Coupe de la Ligue final against Bastia.
"The penalty shows that the commission has not been not fully convinced by the explanations of Zlatan Ibrahimovic," committee president Sebastien Deneux is quoted as saying by L'Equipe.
Marseille's Dimitri Payet has been banned for two matches for yelling expletives as he passed the closed door of the officials' dressing room after the goalless draw with title rivals Lyon in which they felt they had a legitimate goal disallowed.
On the punishments given to the two players Deneux added: "Even if the frustration was taken into account, charges had to be brought for the rude and offensive remarks against the referees.
"The (officials') errors do not justify remarks of such rudeness. They have a duty to set an example."
Source: PA-WIRE
