Zlatan Ibrahimovic explains Tyrone Mings elbow incident after fiery Manchester United draw

The two players were embroiled in controversy at the end of the first half but neither were sent off by referee Kevin Friend

Zlatan Ibrahimovic appeared to elbow Tyrone Mings after the Bournemouth defender had stamped on his head (Getty)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed that Tyrone Mings ‘jumped into his elbow’ during a moment of controversy in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.

The Swedish striker appeared to elbow Mings during the closing stages of the first half, moments after Mings himself appeared to stamp on Ibrahimovic’s head.

Neither player was sent off by the match referee Kevin Friend, despite the official’s decision to talk to Ibrahimovic at length after the elbow incident.

Instead, and only after a long delay, Friend sent off Andrew Surman for a second bookable offence. The Bournemouth midfielder had pushed Ibrahimovic while protesting against the striker’s elbow on Mings.

Ibrahimovic defended himself after the final whistle, saying: “With the elbow situation, I jump, I protect myself; I jump very high, he jumps into me. I think he jumps backwards and I jump straight up and unfortunately, he jumps into my elbow.

“Hopefully he’s not injured or something. The situation happens. I go for the ball and unlucky, he jumps into my elbow. Nothing on purpose, nothing to do about now and hopefully he’s not injured.”

Ibrahimovic went on to see a second-half penalty saved by Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc, while Mings left the field injured as a 78th minute substitute.