Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings has been handed a five-match ban following his stamp on Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the Premier League match at Old Trafford last weekend.
Ibrahimovic was suspended for three games after he accepted a Football Association charge for violent conduct after striking Mings in the face with his elbow when the defender had moments earlier landed with his boot on the head of the Swedish striker.
Mings has, though, been given a longer suspension following an independent regulatory commission hearing at which the defender contested both the charge and the claim.
The FA stated the standard punishment of three matches for the misconduct committed would have been “clearly insufficient”.
A statement from the FA on Wednesday afternoon read: “AFC Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings will serve a five-match suspension with immediate effect, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today.
“The defender was charged with violent conduct in relation to an incident in or around the 44th minute of the game against Manchester United on Saturday [4 March 2017] which was not seen by the match officials at the time but caught on video.
“Furthermore, The FA claimed that the standard punishment of three matches which would otherwise apply for the misconduct committed would be ‘clearly insufficient’.
“The player denied both the charge and the claim, however, both matters were found proven and a two-match suspension was added by the Commission to the standard sanction for violent conduct.”
Bournemouth are battling to stay in the Premier League following a winless run in 2017.
Mings will now not be available again until the trip to Tottenham on April 15.
A statement from the club read: “Bournemouth are extremely disappointed with the FA Regulatory Commission’s decision to find Tyrone Mings guilty of the charges against him and impose a five-game suspension, following Saturday’s incident at Old Trafford involving Zlatan 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.
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.
“We fully support our player. Tyrone has an excellent disciplinary record and has not been sent off in 75 matches as a
professional. During that time he has only received 13 yellow cards – the last of which came in April 2015.
“The club will be making no further comment.”
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