Bournemouth blast Football Association after Tyrone Mings receives five-match ban for ‘stamp’ on Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Bournemouth chiefs have criticised a Football Association (FA) decision to ban defender Tyrone Mings for five games for stamping on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, calling it “extraordinary”.
The FA’s disciplinary commission found Mings guilty of violent conduct in relation to the incident during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester United, which was missed by match officials but reviewed on video.
It also upheld the FA’s assertion that the offence was too serious to be treated with the standard three-match suspension, meaning centre-back Mings will be sidelined until mid-April.
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The Cherries, who have not won or kept a clean sheet in 2017, said they were “extremely disappointed” with the verdict and reiterated their belief that Mings had not meant to catch Ibrahimovic.
“We will study the detailed reasons of the commission once they become available, but find it extraordinary that the charges can be described as ‘proven’ when there is absolutely no evidence to prove the incident was intentional,” Bournemouth said.
“It is our strongly held belief – backed up by our relationship with the player, and knowledge of his background and character – that it was an accidental collision.
“Tyrone twice apologised to Ibrahimovic during the match for the accidental collision and also reiterated that there was no intent straight after the final whistle in a series of television interviews.”
The FA’s decision came 24 hours after Ibrahimovic accepted a three-match ban for elbowing Mings shortly after the alleged stamp.