Ibrahimovic to miss Milan derby
Reuters - Monday 14 March 2011, 18:15
MILAN - AC Milan striker Zlatan
Ibrahimovic will miss the potentially title-deciding derby
against former club Inter after being banned for three games on
Monday following his sending-off in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Bari.
The Swede was dismissed 17 minutes from time for striking
Marco Rossi in the chest in an off-the-ball incident and Serie A
said in a statement on Monday that its disciplinary commissioner
had ruled the offence serious enough to merit a three-game ban.
The suspension of their main attacker comes at a terrible
time for leaders Milan with just nine games left in the season.
Milan lead champions Inter by five points but Ibrahimovic
will now be forced to sit out next weekend's trip to Palermo,
the derby with Inter and the trip to Fiorentina.
Milan, who only have Alexandre Pato as a fit out-and-out
striker, said in a statement they would appeal the severity of
the ban.
Ibrahimovic has looked out of sorts in recent weeks after a
strong start to his Milan career having joined from Barcelona
last year after just one season in Spain following his move from
Inter.
He struggled in last week's Champions League elimination at
Tottenham Hotspur and looked frustrated throughout the home draw
with Serie A's bottom side Bari.
It was a busy day for Serie A's disciplinary commissioner
with Parma's Daniele Galloppa and Lazio's Stefan Radu also given
three-game bans for similar offences.