LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic Fined for Diving Against Crew

Zlatan Ibrahimovic with Galaxy in 2018.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic with LA Galaxy in 2018. Photo by Michael Janosz/ISI/REX/Shutterstock (9697916ac)

Although LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic is arguably MLS’ biggest star, this status still doesn’t help him avoid fines handed by the league. MLS’ Disciplinary Committee announced on Friday that Ibrahimovic is fined for “simulation/embellishment.” The amount that the Swedish forward will have to give up remained undisclosed.

The incident happened in the first half of Galaxy’s 3-1 loss to Columbus Crew when Ibrahimovic tried to trick the referee into getting a penalty kick. The 37-year-old was trying to get to ball in the penalty area, but when Crew’s goalie Zack Steffen got to it first, he decided to dive although there was no contact between him and Steffen.

You can watch the incidents in the video below starting at 1:15 mark.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been playing exceptionally so far in the season, showing that his great form in 2018 wasn’t a coincidence. He played nine MLS games in 2019 and scored nine goals, two less than league-leading LAFC’s Carlos Vela, while providing two assists. This helped Galaxy to 7-1-3 record and second place in the Western Conference.

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