Zlatan Ibrahimovic wasn’t in a word-mincing mood following his controversial dismissal in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League win over Chelsea on Wednesday.
Ibrahimovic’s 31st-minute dismissal was one of many flashpoints in the contentious and dramatic Chelsea-PSG game. The Swede was a spectator for the final 90 (of 120) minutes, but he commanded center stage for a moment after the final whistle.
Ibrahimovic praised his PSG teammates and blasted both the referee and Chelsea’s players in a postgame interview with Sky Sports on the field at Stamford Bridge. Ibrahimoivc questioned referee Bjorn Kuipers’ competency, saying he pulled out of the tackle on Oscar, which the Dutch official punished with a red card. The Swedish star also delivered a killer one-liner, calling the Chelsea players, who were surrounding Kuipers in an effort to influence him, “11 babies.”
UEFA said Monday that Kuipers’ decision was final, meaning Ibrahimovic will be suspended for the first leg of PSG’s two-game quarterfinal series against a yet to-be-determined opponent.
Ibrahimovic’s controversial red card (GIF) >>
Chelsea loss to PSG exposes EPL’s limitations >>
Thumbnail photo via matt Dunham/The Associated Press
