What has the world come into?
Juve: Ban Inter stars, not Ibra Saturday 23 April, 2005
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Juventus have launched their appeal against Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ban with claims that Ivan Cordoba and Sinisa Mihajlovic were the real guilty parties.
“The three-match ban is an injustice,” slammed Fabio Capello. “Video evidence should also be used against those who simulate injury or contact. I am confident our appeal will be successful.”
Ibrahimovic was handed a two-match ban – extended to three because he was set to be suspended for a yellow card anyway – after he was caught on camera striking Cordoba in an off the ball incident during Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to Inter.
“You all saw Alessandro Del Piero when he was punched by Leandro Cufre last month and he stood his ground,” continued Capello. “Cordoba fell clutching his face in simulation of a serious injury. This behaviour should also be punished and was clearly unsporting conduct.”
Ibrahimovic is not entirely new to off the ball incidents and was fortunate not to be dismissed earlier in the same game for a head butt on Sinisa Mihajlovic, but Juve again pointed the finger at the Inter players.
“I have always told Zlatan not to react, especially as in Holland he had insulted several referees,” revealed his agent Mino Raiola.
“I am not here to defend him, although I am sure he will mature through this experience. It is nonetheless true that Zlatan was subject to an incredible amount of provocation by the Inter players and especially Mihajlovic, who hurled racist and personal insults at him in Serbo-Croat throughout the match.”
Although Ibrahimovic is a Swedish international, his family is originally Bosnian with both Catholic and Muslim elements, while Mihajlovic is Serbian.
Juve’s lawyers could call in Serb-speaking lip-readers to view the video tapes and judge whether or not Ibrahimovic was subject to extreme provocation, although that would not explain why he struck out at Colombian Ivan Cordoba.
