Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tyrone Mings hit with FA charges for alleged violent conduct

Both players have until 6pm on Thursday to reply to the charges but are likely to be slapped with significant suspensions

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

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tyrone Mings have been charged with alleged violent conduct by the Football Association.

If found guilty United top scorer Ibrahimovic is set for a three-match domestic ban after he caught Cherries defender Mings with his elbow, an incident referee Kevin Friend didn't deem worthy of a booking at the time.

That could see the Swede miss United's crucial FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea next weekend as well as Premier League clashes with Middlesbrough and West Brom in April.

Bournemouth's Mings is likely to be hit with a much lengthier suspension with stamping deemed a more serious offence by FA regulations.

The 23-year-old appeared to make contact with the United striker's head with his boot sparking Ibrahimovic's angry reaction moments later.

Despite the vast majority of onlookers' view to the contrary Mings claimed he never intended to cause Ibrahimovic any harm.

“It wasn’t intentional,” he said. “If there is reaction, there is reaction after. They have time to slow it down and look at it from different angles. But when you are out there on the pitch you have to try and get back in and defend.

“I obviously didn’t mean it, but if there is reaction there is reaction, everyone will have an opinion that is football.”

Both players have until 6pm on Thursday to reply to the charges.