Take Zlat! Ibrahimovic red-carded for slapping MLS opponent (VIDEO)
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to make headlines Stateside following his move to Major League Soccer (MLS) team LA Galaxy – this time thanks to a hilarious red card for slapping an opponent.
Having grabbed everyone’s attention on his Galaxy debut with a stunning goal from 35 yards, Zlatan this time made the news for another kind of strike – by clipping Montreal Impact’s Michael Petrasso round the ear.
On 40 minutes, and with the game level, cameras caught 36-year-old former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Ajax forward Zlatan administer the slap after the Montreal midfielder trod on his foot while trying to mark him.
The 6ft 5in Zlatan reached around to swat the 5ft 5in Petrasso on the side of the head from behind. The two then fell to the ground; Zlatan clutching his foot, Petrasso holding his head.
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Referee Ismail Elfath then duly showed captain Ibrahimovic a red card. Despite their skipper’s dismissal, Galaxy ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a second-half goal from Ola Camara, which ended a four-game MLS losing streak.
Ibrahimovic joined MLS side Galaxy from Manchester United in the summer. There had been speculation the player, who retired from international football after Euro 2016, would make his country’s 2018 World Cup squad for Russia this summer.
Sweden have been drawn in Group G alongside Germany, Mexico and South Korea at the Russia 2018 tournament, which begins on June 14 in Moscow.
