PARIS: Paris Saint Germain's star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be under intense scrutiny on Friday when they host Ligue 1 strugglers Lorient -- and not only from panicked defenders.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has told him to be on his best behaviour after the Swede called France "a shit country" and insulted the referee after last week's 3-2 league defeat to Bordeaux.
"I am shocked by the remarks in equal measure about the refereeing as about France," he said. "I would urge him to behave in an exemplary manner all the time."
Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen even suggested Ibrahimovic could leave the country if he felt that way, but others have supported him.
"He's a world class player," Sweden coach Eric Hamren said, and reminded everyone that a fly-on-the-wall camera inside any dressing would be highly revealing.
But the French referees' union, SAFE, called the outburst "a new torrent of hate and verbal violence" by Ibrahimovic, who stands to pick up a ban of up to five domestic games.
He will, however, be available on Friday, as he will not learn his fate until April 9.
That means he will also be free to play in the the league game with title rivals Marseille after the international break, a French Cup quarter-final with Saint Etienne and a League Cup final with Bastia the week after.
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