MLS suspends Galaxy star Ibrahimovic for 2 games
Los Angeles Galaxy star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic was suspended for two games Friday by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for violent conduct during the team's loss to New York City FC last Saturday.
Ibrahimovic, second in the league with nine goals in 10 games, will miss Sunday's game against the visiting Colorado Rapids and next Friday's game at Orlando City.
The incident happened in the 86th minute of the Galaxy's 2-0 loss at NYCFC. Ibrahimovic put a shot off the crossbar, with the ball deflecting to teammate Chris Pontius, who left-footed a shot over the net. Goalie Sean Johnson, while trying to recover back into the goal box, bumped into the back of Ibrahimovic.
The 37-year-old international star from Sweden turned to face Johnson and grabbed the goalie in the neck with his right hand before both players fell to the grass.
Johnson was down for several seconds, clutching at his face.
The disciplinary committee also issued Ibrahimovic an undisclosed fine.
Ibrahimovic is in his second season in the MLS, having earned league Newcomer of the Year honors in 2018, when he recorded 22 goals and 10 assists in 27 matches for the Galaxy. The 20-goal, 10-assist campaign was just the third in MLS history.
He also was fined and suspended for a match last season after drawing a red card for slapping the Montreal Impact's Michael Petrasso.
The Galaxy enter the weekend third in the Western Conference with a 7-4-1 record for 22 points.
In other MLS news, the disciplinary committee issued an additional game suspension to Colorado Rapids forward Diego Rubio for violent conduct during a red-card incident on May 3 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Rubio already sat out one game.
Two players -- Houston Dynamo forward Alberth Elis and Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez -- were fined an undisclosed amount for simulation/embellishment.
--Field Level Media
