Ibrahimović has been involved in several violent incidents with teammates, some of which have gone viral on the internet. After a 2004 international friendly against the Netherlands, Ajax teammate Rafael van der Vaart publicly accused Ibrahimović of deliberately injuring him during the game. Ibrahimović responded by threatening to break both of Van der Vaart's legs.[176] Ibrahimović also punched Ajax teammate Mido in the dressing room after the latter had thrown a pair of scissors at him.[176]
During his spell at Barcelona, Ibrahimović had a falling-out with coach Pep Guardiola, culminating in a dressing room incident in which Ibrahimović threw a training-kit box across the room and screamed insults at Guardiola. Guardiola eventually refused to speak to Ibrahimović and loaned him out to Milan.[177] Barcelona vice president Carles Vilarrubi further revealed that Ibrahimović had threatened to publicly beat up Guardiola if he was not released to Milan.[178]
In 2010, Ibrahimović was involved in a training-ground fistfight with Milan teammate Oguchi Onyewu, after Ibrahimović made a two-footed tackle on him, followed by a headbutt. The players were separated and the session prematurely abandoned; Ibrahimović suffered a broken rib in the fracas. Both players had accused one of insulting the other.[176][179] In March 2011, Ibrahimović was given a three-match ban for punching Bari defender Marco Rossi in the stomach during a game.[180] He received another three-match ban in February 2012 for slapping Napoli player Salvatore Aronica.[181] In 2011, Ibrahimović kicked teammate Antonio Cassano in the face while Cassano was speaking to reporters.[182] and kicked Rodney Strasser during a training session.[183]
In November 2012, he received a two-match ban for kicking AS Saint-Étienne goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier in the chest.[184][185] In December 2012, Ibrahimović was accused by Lyon defender Dejan Lovren and president Jean-Michel Aulas of deliberately stamping on Lovren's head.[186] In February 2013, UEFA handed Ibrahimović a two-match ban for stamping on Valencia winger Andrés Guardado.[187][188] In March 2013, PSG winger Lucas Moura claimed that Ibrahimović regularly insulted team-mates, stating “He always asks for the ball and insults a lot. He is sometimes a bit arrogant and complains.”[189] Lucas later claimed, though, that the interview was twisted and badly translated.[190] In May 2013, Ibrahimović was filmed screaming at sporting director Leonardo after PSG's title victory.[191]
Lyon coach Hubert Fournier accused Ibrahimović of abusing officials, stating in January 2015 that "all the referees in this league get insulted by this person."[192] Two months later, after a loss by PSG in a Ligue 1 match, Ibrahimović ranted, "In 15 years I’ve never seen a [good] referee in this shit country ... [they] don’t even deserve PSG". He later apologised, but was criticised by French politicians,[193][194] and Ligue 1 imposed a four-match ban.[195]
Ibrahimović has additionally engaged in multiple incidents while on the national team. After Sweden's 1–0 victory over the Faroe Islands in October 2012, Faroes captain Fróði Benjaminsen accused Ibrahimović of foul play and insults, describing him as "arrogant", "childish", "ignorant", and a "dirty player".[196] In December 2015, French sports daily L'Équipe branded Ibrahimović and Cristiano Ronaldo the "most arrogant" footballers in the world.[197] Ibrahimović was additionally caught on camera kicking teammate Christian Wilhelmsson during training.[183][198] In 2013, he came under fire from the Sweden women's national team for an interview published on Christmas Day by tabloid Expressen, in which he had commented about the disparity of achievements by, and treatment of, male and female footballers. Former teammate Anders Svensson had been rewarded with a car for becoming Sweden's most-capped player that year, but Therese Sjögran had received no such reward for doing likewise for the women's team, despite owning 41 more caps (187 to 146) than Svensson at the time.[199] Ibrahimović's response to the issue was that Sweden would be "devaluing" Svensson "by comparing him with the ladies' individual achievements. They can get a bike with my autograph on it and then we're good."[199] Coach Pia Sundhage replied that his comments were "sad and unfortunate" and epitomized "failings in the basic values of male football", while Sjögran said, "I understand him when he says that the men's national team brings in more money and exposure. That's true. But this is about respect."[199]
In April 2016, Raiola announced that Ibrahimović would be suing Swedish trainer Ulf Karlsson over doping claims.[200] According to Expressen, Karlsson cited Ibrahimović's "unnatural" and "rapid weight gain" during his stint with Juventus.[201] Raiola said about the allegations, "The claims are just crazy – the facts are not there. All the clubs Zlatan has been at know he doesn't even take aspirin."[200]
During his spell at Barcelona, Ibrahimović had a falling-out with coach Pep Guardiola, culminating in a dressing room incident in which Ibrahimović threw a training-kit box across the room and screamed insults at Guardiola. Guardiola eventually refused to speak to Ibrahimović and loaned him out to Milan.[177] Barcelona vice president Carles Vilarrubi further revealed that Ibrahimović had threatened to publicly beat up Guardiola if he was not released to Milan.[178]
In 2010, Ibrahimović was involved in a training-ground fistfight with Milan teammate Oguchi Onyewu, after Ibrahimović made a two-footed tackle on him, followed by a headbutt. The players were separated and the session prematurely abandoned; Ibrahimović suffered a broken rib in the fracas. Both players had accused one of insulting the other.[176][179] In March 2011, Ibrahimović was given a three-match ban for punching Bari defender Marco Rossi in the stomach during a game.[180] He received another three-match ban in February 2012 for slapping Napoli player Salvatore Aronica.[181] In 2011, Ibrahimović kicked teammate Antonio Cassano in the face while Cassano was speaking to reporters.[182] and kicked Rodney Strasser during a training session.[183]
In November 2012, he received a two-match ban for kicking AS Saint-Étienne goalkeeper Stéphane Ruffier in the chest.[184][185] In December 2012, Ibrahimović was accused by Lyon defender Dejan Lovren and president Jean-Michel Aulas of deliberately stamping on Lovren's head.[186] In February 2013, UEFA handed Ibrahimović a two-match ban for stamping on Valencia winger Andrés Guardado.[187][188] In March 2013, PSG winger Lucas Moura claimed that Ibrahimović regularly insulted team-mates, stating “He always asks for the ball and insults a lot. He is sometimes a bit arrogant and complains.”[189] Lucas later claimed, though, that the interview was twisted and badly translated.[190] In May 2013, Ibrahimović was filmed screaming at sporting director Leonardo after PSG's title victory.[191]
Lyon coach Hubert Fournier accused Ibrahimović of abusing officials, stating in January 2015 that "all the referees in this league get insulted by this person."[192] Two months later, after a loss by PSG in a Ligue 1 match, Ibrahimović ranted, "In 15 years I’ve never seen a [good] referee in this shit country ... [they] don’t even deserve PSG". He later apologised, but was criticised by French politicians,[193][194] and Ligue 1 imposed a four-match ban.[195]
Ibrahimović has additionally engaged in multiple incidents while on the national team. After Sweden's 1–0 victory over the Faroe Islands in October 2012, Faroes captain Fróði Benjaminsen accused Ibrahimović of foul play and insults, describing him as "arrogant", "childish", "ignorant", and a "dirty player".[196] In December 2015, French sports daily L'Équipe branded Ibrahimović and Cristiano Ronaldo the "most arrogant" footballers in the world.[197] Ibrahimović was additionally caught on camera kicking teammate Christian Wilhelmsson during training.[183][198] In 2013, he came under fire from the Sweden women's national team for an interview published on Christmas Day by tabloid Expressen, in which he had commented about the disparity of achievements by, and treatment of, male and female footballers. Former teammate Anders Svensson had been rewarded with a car for becoming Sweden's most-capped player that year, but Therese Sjögran had received no such reward for doing likewise for the women's team, despite owning 41 more caps (187 to 146) than Svensson at the time.[199] Ibrahimović's response to the issue was that Sweden would be "devaluing" Svensson "by comparing him with the ladies' individual achievements. They can get a bike with my autograph on it and then we're good."[199] Coach Pia Sundhage replied that his comments were "sad and unfortunate" and epitomized "failings in the basic values of male football", while Sjögran said, "I understand him when he says that the men's national team brings in more money and exposure. That's true. But this is about respect."[199]
In April 2016, Raiola announced that Ibrahimović would be suing Swedish trainer Ulf Karlsson over doping claims.[200] According to Expressen, Karlsson cited Ibrahimović's "unnatural" and "rapid weight gain" during his stint with Juventus.[201] Raiola said about the allegations, "The claims are just crazy – the facts are not there. All the clubs Zlatan has been at know he doesn't even take aspirin."[200]
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