LFP reduces Ibrahimovic suspension to three matches

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has seen his suspension for a foul-mouthed rant reduced to three matches by the Professional Football League (LFP).

The Paris Saint-Germain striker was initially handed a four-game ban for comments towards a referee following a Ligue 1 defeat to Bordeaux, a decision that was criticised by his club.

Ibrahimovic appeared to say: "[I've] played 15 years I've never seen a referee this s*** country. Don't even deserve PSG to be in this country. F****** too good for all of you."

He later apologised and PSG have welcomed the decision to reduce his ban, while aiming an attack against other Ligue 1 clubs.

"Paris Saint-Germain is happy that the LFP has accepted the 17 April proposition by the French National Olympic and Sport Committee's conciliators, concerning the striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"The player also confirms he has accepted the conciliatory proposition to reduce his suspension to three matches.

"The capital club takes this opportunity to invite the other actors of French football: club presidents and players, to focus on the end of the season rather than meddle in the matters of Paris Saint-Germain.

"Paris Saint-Germain respects all clubs and refuses to pass comment on their affairs and asks the same in return."

Marseille's Dimitri Payet has also seen a ban trimmed. He was suspended for two games after directing angry comments at the dressing room of the match officials following a 0-0 draw with Lyon, but will now sit out a solitary match.

PSG trounce Bastia to secure their fifth Coupe de la Ligue title

Paris Saint-Germain secured their fifth Coupe de la Ligue title with a 4-0 trouncing of 10-man SC Bastia at Stade de France on Saturday.

Laurent Blanc's players successfully defended their crown thanks to two Zlatan Ibrahimovic goals and another brace from substitute Edinson Cavani. The success means that PSG are only the second team to defend their League Cup title and it also forms one part of what could ultimately become a domestic treble by the end of the season.

The match turned on Sebastien Squillaci's 18th minute red card, with the Corsicans unable to get themselves back into the game a man light. PSG did not have to be at their very best to see off Ghislain Printant's men, but they were still able to turn on the style to win comfortably.

Now buoyed by this comprehensive win, the French giants will go into their clash with Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg next week full of confidence.

Ibrahimovic slapped with four match suspension

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been suspended for four matches due to a foul-mouthed rant following Paris Saint-Germain's defeat at Bordeaux last month.

The Sweden striker hit the headlines once again when he was caught on camera cursing the performance of referee Lionel Jaffredo in PSG's 3-2 Ligue 1 loss.

Ibrahimovic appeared to say: "[I've] played 15 years I've never seen a referee this s*** country. Don't even deserve PSG to be in this country. F****** too good for all of you."

The former Barcelona and Inter man subsequently issued an apology, stating that his words "were directed neither towards France nor towards the French", but that has not helped him avoid sanction.

Ibrahimovic will miss Ligue 1 fixtures against Nice, Lille and Metz with the fourth game of his ban suspended.

The suspension kicks in on April 14, meaning his availability for Saturday's Coupe de la Ligue final against Bastia is unaffected.

Ibrahimovic slams ´b******t´ PSG exit rumours

According to soccerway, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has reacted angrily to suggestions that he could leave Paris Saint-Germain, claiming the reports are "b******t".

The Sweden captain has been typically prominent in the headlines recently, and faces a disciplinary hearing after launching a foul-mouthed tirade against referee Lionel Jaffredo in the aftermath of PSG's 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux earlier this month.

Ibrahimovic told a camera in the tunnel: "[I've] played 15 years I've never seen a referee this s*** country. Don't even deserve PSG to be in this country. F****** too good for all of you."

The former Barcelona and Inter man subsequently apologised, but that has not stopped rumours circulating that he is considering his future.

But Ibrahimovic has insisted he has no intention of leaving the Parc des Princes. 

"I like it in France," he said at a news conference ahead of Sweden's UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Moldova.

"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*******, they just want to pull me down from the top but I will not go. I like it on top. That's where I'll stay."

Paris Saint-Germain 3 Lorient 1: Ibrahimovic ends eventful week with hat-trick

Paris Saint-Germain moved top of Ligue 1 thanks to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's hat-trick, which gave them a 3-1 win over Lorient on Friday.

Ibrahimovic has rarely been out of the headlines in the last week or so, first getting sent off in PSG's UEFA Champions League success at Chelsea before then launching a foul-mouthed tirade at referee Lionel Jaffredo following last Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux.

However, the Ligue 1 champions' talisman will take the spotlight for the right reasons after his treble at the Parc des Princes defeated a spirited Lorient outfit.

Ibrahimovic was chopped down by visiting goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte in the early stages of the game and subsequently tucked home the resulting penalty.

It appeared as though PSG would be punished for wasting several opportunities when Jordan Ayew levelled with a superb strike against the run of play in the 67th minute.

But, with the clock winding down, Javier Pastore was fouled in the box by Lamine Kone and Ibrahimovic rolled in his second spot-kick of the game.

And the Sweden captain completed his hat-trick in injury time, unerringly firing past Lecomte from the edge of the area after being fed by Marco Verratti as PSG moved above Lyon at the top, with Hubert Fournier's side playing Nice on Saturday.

Ibrahimovic's evening started well as he converted low into the left-hand corner from the spot after he was brought down by Lecomte while latching on to a long ball.

PSG continued to find success from a direct approach and Ezequiel Lavezzi raced on to Pastore's dink only to be foiled by the legs of Lecomte, with Cavani's calls for a penalty when Wesley Lautoa appeared to handle his follow up falling on deaf ears.

Lecomte came to the rescue again with a smart one-handed parry from Ibrahimovic's low first-time shot after he was slipped in by Veratti's throughball.

Lavezzi had PSG's first opportunity of the second half when he failed to convert Maxwell's cross from the left from inside the six-yard box.

PSG's profligacy was nearly punished by Ayew as he surged into the box and stung the palms of Salvatore Sirigu, and Cavani then came agonisingly close a first league goal since mid-January when he bent a 25-yard free-kick narrowly wide on the hour.

But PSG's failure to find a second goal came back to haunt them in the 67th minute as Ayew hit a sweet, low effort from 20 yards that nestled in the bottom-left corner.

The former Marseille man almost put Lorient on course for a shock win soon after, but Verratti was on hand to clear his half-volley off the line.

There would be another twist in the tale, though, as Kone clumsily brought Pastore to ground in the box and the home fans breathed a sigh of relief as Ibrahimovic put his penalty to left of Lecomte.

And Ibrahimovic was celebrating his treble in stoppage time. Verrati won possession deep in Lorient's half and slid the ball to the forward, whose shot had too much power for Lecomte.

Ibrahimovic handed one-match ban for Chelsea red

Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been banned for one match following his red card in the UEFA Champions League last-16 clash with Chelsea.

Ibrahimovic was sent off in the 31st minute of PSG's dramatic 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge last week, which sent the Ligue 1 champions into the last eight on away goals.

The decision appeared harsh on Ibrahimovic, who was dismissed for a foul on Chelsea midfielder Oscar when challenging for a 50-50 ball.

PSG went on to produce a superb performance with 10 men to progress against the odds after extra time, with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho calling for Ibrahimovic's red card to be rescinded in the aftermath.

A UEFA statement on Thursday read: "The Paris Saint-Germain [player] Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been suspended for one (1) UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible.

"As a result, the player is not eligible to play in the first-leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona."

In addition, Serge Aurier has been banned for three matches for his criticism of referee Bjorn Kuipers on social media.

Aurier posted a video on his Twitter account after the match, but later apologised for the post.

His ban will see him miss the quarter-finals as well as the first leg of a potential semi-final.

Mourinho: Give Ibrahimovic red to David Luiz

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has called on UEFA to overturn the controversial red card shown to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Wednesday's dramatic Champions League last-16 exit to Paris Saint-Germain.

Ligue 1 champions PSG progressed to the quarter-finals on the away goals rule after drawing 2-2 after extra time at Stamford Bridge, despite being down to 10 men in the 31st minute when Sweden international Ibrahimovic was dismissed for a sliding challenge on Oscar.

The decision of referee Bjorn Kuipers looked a harsh one with Ibrahimovic appearing to pull out of the challenge.

And Mourinho, who worked with Ibrahimovic during his time as Inter coach, believes it would be a shame if the former Barcelona striker was not allowed to play in the quarter-finals.

"I was very far from the Ibrahimovic situation and I couldn't see it," he said. "I spoke with him after the game, and when he speaks with me he's always honest.

"He would tell me if there was a reason for a red card. He was very disappointed. If that's the case I hope they can minimise the mistake and let him play in the quarter-finals because if he did nothing wrong he deserves that."

However, the Portuguese stated that Ibrahimovic's punishment should be passed on to to former Chelsea man David Luiz - who scored PSG's first equaliser - for an apparent elbow on Diego Costa that went unpunished on the night.

Mourinho was also less than impressed that Costa was denied a first-half penalty after going to ground under a challenge from Edinson Cavani.

"It was a clear penalty on Diego Costa. Once more I think it's a waste of time and money to have officials behind the goal because normally they do nothing," he added. 

"If he cannot see a penalty 10 metres from him where it's completely clear it's a waste of time and money.

"David's elbow I didn't see, but when UEFA gives him the man of the match I have to believe there was no elbow because I can't believe UEFA would give the man of the match to someone who made an aggression.

"Because they cannot give us the penalty, maybe they can do what is fair from the disciplinarian point of view and suspend David and take the red card off Ibra and let him play in the quarter-finals."

Blanc backs Ibrahimovic to play crucial role in Chelsea tie

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc is adamant that Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not wilt in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at Chelsea.

The Sweden international has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in world football.

However, question marks have arisen at times over Ibrahimovic's impact in key matches, with critics pointing to a poor goalscoring record in the Champions League knockout stages.

But Blanc believes that the former Barcelona forward, who played under the stewardship of Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho at Inter, has the ability to score in any situation and stated he will be vital at Stamford Bridge as PSG look to progress to the last eight with the tie at 1-1.

"In terms of Ibrahimovic and his influence in knockout matches, regardless of who plays centre-back for Chelsea whether it's Gary Cahill or Kurt Zouma they will not envy facing him," Blanc said.

"The good news for PSG is that Zlatan will play. He loves the big occasion, he can score at any time, in any venue. He'll be important for us."

PSG arguably edged the first leg at the Parc des Princes, with Chelsea thankful to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for making a number of crucial saves.

"He [Courtois] was very good in the first leg," Blanc added. "If I'm honest I say I hope he plays well [on Wednesday] because we will have created chances.

"But I want him to play less well. The goalkeeper is why they [Chelsea] go into the game as slight favourites.

"If he plays well again PSG will have proved they played better than Chelsea."