'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovich has apologised to the French citizens for the comments he made following his side’s 3-2 loss to Bordeaux on Sunday
The 33-year-old has said that he didn't mean to offend any of the French people with his words and added that the outburst was only because the referee didn't follow the correct rules.
“Regarding my comments after tonight's game; they were not against France or the French people,” the Sweden international had earlier said via his instagram account.
“I spoke about football. I lost the game, I accept that, but I can’t accept when the referee doesn’t follow the rules. It's not the first time, and I’m sick of it. My sincere apologies if anyone was offended or took it the wrong way.”
The former Inter Milan forward had vented his anger out on the referee, following an incident that took place in the 85th minute of the game, when the referee didn't award PSG an indirect free-kick after Bordeaux goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso handled the ball with his hands following a back pass from a defender.
The back pass rule prohibits a goalkeeper by FIFA 12th Law. from handling the ball directly with his hand when a team-mate passes it back to him. The keeper is allowed to use his head or chest, but definitely not his hands.
Speaking in an interview, the former Milan and Barcelona star offered his apology yet again.
"First of all, my comments were not directed at people living in France. I was very angry at that time. If anyone took my words the wrong way; then I apologise for that, honestly. I have no problem with that, because I'm a man of honour,” he said. “I also think the people of France are intelligent enough to understand the situation. But I repeat: I have no problem apologising to those people that were offended. I respect people that respect me.”
“I received a great welcome when I arrived in France and I'm very happy here. I have had a fantastic time since I arrived in Paris, but I have no regrets and nobody will make me change my mind. So don't put words in my mouth. I was only talking about football, so let's just talk about football, because football here is the most important thing for me."
