Football
PA Sport 9y

PSG star Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he likes life in France despite outburst

Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed he has only love for his French footballing life amid the fall-out from his outburst earlier this month.

Ibrahimovic will face a French Football League (LFP) disciplinary commission hearing on April 9 over comments he made after PSG's 3-2 loss to Bordeaux on March 15.

The Swede was at the time caught on camera 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."

French sports minister Patrick Kanner had called on Ibrahimovic to apologise, which he later did in a social media post, and the forward has once again played down the impact of his rant.

At a news conference ahead of Sweden's Euro 2016 qualifier against Moldova, Ibrahimovic said: "I like it in France.

"I would not have played there for so long and I would not have renewed my contract if I did not like it. All the others, all that b------t, they just want to pull me down from the top but I will not go. I like it at the top. That's where I'll stay."

Ibrahimovic does, however, want a greater emphasis placed on referees, adding: "We the players are punished, but not the referee."

While Ibrahimovic did score a hat trick for PSG against Lorient in the last round of Ligue 1 fixtures before the international break, he will miss their Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Barcelona after his sending off against Chelsea.

His tackle on Oscar earned him a straight red and Ibrahimovic, who accused the Chelsea players of acting like "babies," feels the Brazilian had played his part in the referee's decision.

"Play-acting does not belong in my world and I play to win," Ibrahimovic said. "I will do anything to win, but play-acting? Not that. It is out there. I do not know if it has become part of the game, but I hope not."

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