Ibrahimovic suspended 4 games for insulting France, referee

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Paris St Germain celebrate after scoring against Girondins Bordeaux during their French Ligue 1 soccer match at Chaban Delmas stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France, March 15, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS - Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was suspended four matches by the French league's disciplinary commission on Thursday following his criticism of a referee and France as well last month.

Following PSG's 3-2 loss at Bordeaux in the league on March 15, the Swede striker vented his anger on referee's decisions against PSG and then used an expletive to describe France as these insulting comments were caught on camera, including referee Lionel Jaffredo and one of his assistants.

Ibrahimovic later said he was sorry after the French sports minister asked him to apologize.

The suspension starts next week. Ibrahimovic will miss league games against Nice, Lille, Metz and Nantes and should return for the last three matches of the season. He will also miss the first leg of his club's Champions League quarterfinals against Barcelona after he was sent off against Chelsea in the previous round and suspended for one match.

Ibrahimovic's comments in Bordeaux caused an outcry in France, with National Front leader Marine Le Pen suggesting that he should leave the country if he was not happy.

Ibrahimovic, 33, described the Chelsea players as a bunch of "babies" after he was sent off for a late challenge on Oscar in the first half of PSG's match at Stamford Bridge last month, highlighting his profile of controversy.

Ibrahimovic has his tally with PSG to 102 goals in less than three years following his hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Saint-Etienne in the French Cup midweek,