By Dan Davis
AFC Bournemouth have expressed their disappointment with the FA’s decision to hand Tyrone Mings a five match ban, after his altercation with Zlatan Ibrahimović in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
After the FA’s review of the incident, which involved a supposed stamp on the Manchester United forward, Mings will now miss the next five fixtures.
Bournemouth released a statement onto their website today, which stated the club’s support for Mings:
“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.”
The club even went as far as to list Mings’ disciplinary record, which shows the English defender has never been sent off in 75 professional matches.
Mings was originally facing a three-match ban; the usual punishment for players charged with violent conduct.
However, the FA released a statement after an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today:
“The FA has submitted a claim that the standard punishment that would otherwise apply for the misconduct committed by the Bournemouth defender is ‘clearly insufficient’.”
When asked about the incident with Ibrahimović, Mings said that the stamp was accidental.
The Swedish forward has been given a three-match ban for elbowing Mings in the same game, and he has accepted his punishment.
The fixtures that Mings will now miss are:
Home vs West Ham
Home vs Swansea City
Away vs Southampton
Away vs Liverpool
Home vs Chelsea
He will make his return against Tottenham on Saturday, 15 April.