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Ibrahimovic denies 'deliberate kick' on Coleman
The pair tangled in the second half of the 1-1 draw with Manchester United, with the Swede falling on top of Coleman and then catching the Irish captain with his boot as he fell over him.
The challenge eventually forced the Toffees' defender from the field, although his substitution was down more to the impact of Ibrahimovic falling on top of him than the boot to his head.
Television replays suggest that there might have been intent to hurt Coleman by Ibrahimovic but he rejected the accusations with his typical bravado.
“It was a physical game," he told MUTV. "They played hard. I heard one of the commentators say I kicked someone in the head on purpose but it was a 50-50 duel and he pulled me down.
“Trust me, if I want to kick someone in the head, I know how to kick someone in the head and make him fall asleep. That is the only thing I have to say.”
Ibrahimovic will escape censure from the FA because referee Michael Oliver included the incident in his report of the match. The official has been criticised in some quarters for only brandishing a yellow card to Marcos Rojo for his two-footed lunge on Idrissa Gueye in the first half.
Coleman, for his part, didn't address the controversial side of the incident but explained that he felt it was the right decision to come off.
The fullback made way for Mason Holgate when it became clear to him he couldn't continue because of what looked like pain in his chest from him taking the weight of Ibrahimovic's fall.
“I'm not one to come off," Coleman said. "I don't know the ins and outs of the injury yet. It's feeling much better now, after the game.
"I couldn't stand up straight and I couldn't run really, so it was a case of using your head.
"There's no point being brave and not being fit to play to your full potential, especially against a team like that, because you could be at fault for a goal.
Your bravery would end up being stupid."
Reader Comments (51)
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2 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:03:44
I don't think he has got a snide move like that in his game. He would fight you at the drop of a hat but I don't think he would kick someone in the head as a result of a tackle.
4 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:17:10
5 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:17:48
I've read your post several times and cannot make my mind up as to what you are saying?
Surely kicking someone in the head as many times as he wants, is not what you meant?
6 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:22:42
7 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:28:11
Zlatan should be congratulated as it got Holgate on the pitch, much better than Seamus.
8 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:32:11
The card for Rojo should have been a red all day long. If that had been Barry on Rojo he would have been off based largely on his previous behaviours. No one was badly hurt BUT that should not be the caveat.
The Aguero tackle against Chelski got him a four game ban. Rojo's tackle was worse. The only reason he wasn't sent off was because our man got straight up and therefore a yellow was issued.
If Idrissa Gana Gueye had writhed about like sideshow Bob did for Chelski, Rojo would have been sent off, no doubt.
9 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:35:46
10 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:48:11
11 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:50:08
12 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:56:17
Colin supports Everton so I bet he's been to Las Vegas a few times.
What do you mean? That makes no sense...
13 Posted 05/12/2016 at 18:03:12
Utter Gobshite
15 Posted 05/12/2016 at 18:10:45
What a nice chap.
17 Posted 05/12/2016 at 18:22:54
18 Posted 05/12/2016 at 18:34:22
19 Posted 05/12/2016 at 18:40:00
We are too honest for a League were cheats prosper. Deli Alli should be banned for 6 games after that dive on Saturday but he won't. Until someone is made an example of this type of behaviour will continue unabated.
Oh and by the way we need refs with balls, big balls. Luiz should have gone at the Etihad in the first half. Rojo at Goodison, the guy who shoved Aguerro over, Fabregas for the slap on Fernandinho, which wound him up good-style, McClean for WBA and R Sole of course.
21 Posted 05/12/2016 at 18:44:20
His excuse and "if I kicked someone" etc doesn't wash. He tried to hurt Coleman and succeeded. Far from being a legend, anyone who talks about themselves in the third person is a complete wanker.
22 Posted 05/12/2016 at 18:50:47
If Costa had done this, you wouldn't hear the last of it would you Colin, (#1)? Surprised at you defending this.
24 Posted 05/12/2016 at 19:01:28
Our lack of play acting ensured they finished with 11, not 9.
25 Posted 05/12/2016 at 19:12:47
26 Posted 05/12/2016 at 19:22:18
But we are just so nice. I noticed that Rojo got way with a yellow card from the worst tackle I have seen for 50 years. Even United fans said it was a blatant red card.
But 5 minutes later half the United team appealed for a yellow card to Barry and waved imaginary cards in front of the referee. I thought don't they have any shame in life. If you get away with murder it would be normal to keep a low profile.
In a way I am proud that our players are just etting up like Gana and Coleman and that we don't wave imaginary cgards and surround the ref. But you are sitting back with a feeling that the Sky teams do it all the time and benefit from it.
28 Posted 05/12/2016 at 19:42:24
No doubt Ma Utd got away with two red cards yesterday, and Mourinho (who was on my wish list for new manager) has gone right down in my estimation.
Referring to Everton as "the opponents" really shows him to be quite the arrogant snickerdick.
29 Posted 05/12/2016 at 20:05:56
30 Posted 05/12/2016 at 20:23:20
You mean that only now have you discovered that Mou is an "arrogant snickerdick"???
As for Seamus turning in, he was trying to draw the foul and earn a free kick. Unfortunately, he succeeded too well.
31 Posted 05/12/2016 at 20:33:56
Yep, I sure did know he was full of himself but this was just disrespectful to all connected with Everton FC in my opinion.
Regards Coleman trying to draw the foul , if indeed you are correct, it's a little close to our goal to be turning inside, don't you think? Why did he not just keep running?
32 Posted 05/12/2016 at 21:05:15
Jose has been painting himself as a victim all season and now the FA are scared to upset him.
Ibra went down in my estimation for that. Nasty nasty bloke.
And anyone that can't see that was intentional hasn't played the game before.
33 Posted 05/12/2016 at 21:36:47
I actually think that Ibrahimovic is a wonderful player. Sadly, though, I think he is a sad specimen of a man.
34 Posted 05/12/2016 at 22:00:46
He spent the whole game swaggering around like a prat and apart from once again Everton having a goalkeeper who doesn't get the clue in the job description, never got another sniff.
Bolasie was pole-axed as well with the liner looking across to Oliver before choosing not to give anything. I thought Oliver was the best of a bad bunch but he had a shocker yesterday. Man Utd tried every snide pull, kick, grapple and whine trick in the book and got away with the majority.
35 Posted 05/12/2016 at 23:03:13
Would the commentators name be Mr Conscience by any chance? Lying twat.
36 Posted 06/12/2016 at 03:59:49
Brian (#21), David Pearl agrees with you!
I think Seamus was more concerned with being winded. Thankfully you don't tend to practice kicking someone in the head whilst sat on your arse on a football pitch. You only do that from 14th Dan onwards.
37 Posted 06/12/2016 at 06:54:24
Watch again and you will see there is a definite second movement of the leg into Seamus and watch Zlatan's face: he is looking at Coleman and knows exactly what he is doing.
38 Posted 06/12/2016 at 09:11:21
39 Posted 06/12/2016 at 09:22:58
40 Posted 06/12/2016 at 10:06:28
41 Posted 06/12/2016 at 12:42:07
42 Posted 06/12/2016 at 15:48:41
He's got a head like a fistful of scrotum.
43 Posted 06/12/2016 at 15:55:46
He knew it would impact on his hard man image too: hence the feigned concern when Coleman eventually had to go off. He's nothing but 6'4" shithouse. Don't even get me started on the coward Rojo.
44 Posted 06/12/2016 at 16:13:38
Doesn't bother me though. He's a snide and that's something we need more of. I remember Cahill having some red shite in a headlock in the build-up to a goal in our 3-0 win.
Can you imagine a Shite, Chelsea, Man City or Man Utd player jumping up after a tackle like Rojo's on any of their players? Far too fuckin nice, us.
Keith@24 – It reminded me of when Van der Saar did the same after Pienaar scored against Man Utd.
45 Posted 06/12/2016 at 16:28:56
However, how many others think that Martial got the benefit of an inept linesman for deliberately barging Bolasie to the ground thus causing this bad injury?
46 Posted 06/12/2016 at 16:43:51
47 Posted 06/12/2016 at 17:09:54
Ronald Koeman was not backward in coming forward himself when playing; we need to get a bit nastier.
49 Posted 06/12/2016 at 17:50:21
gets without complaint. The duel between him and Martial was brilliant.
50 Posted 06/12/2016 at 19:36:40
Just imagine if Ibrascratchanitch had have done that with big Dunc or Joey B in the side.
These pieces of excrement do this crap because they know they can get away with it.
It's about who they play for.
I rest my case..
52 Posted 07/12/2016 at 12:53:16
Those of you who can't even see this from a YouTube video might need your eyes testing!
53 Posted 07/12/2016 at 13:14:28
We also know that our own Duncan Ferguson served a jail sentence because a supporter reported what was later deemed by the Court to have been a criminal assault the fact that it took place on a football field was (and is) irrelevant.
Maybe one of you guys (James #52?) who had a clear view on the day should report the incident to the police and see what happens?
54 Posted 07/12/2016 at 17:53:51
The concerning thing about this is the writer's unconcern about what he has written.
55 Posted 07/12/2016 at 23:07:07
56 Posted 07/12/2016 at 23:21:07
The Rojo plunge was far worse and should've been a straight red. That was way beyond the pale.
57 Posted 08/12/2016 at 07:19:49
58 Posted 08/12/2016 at 12:46:19
I could not agree more. They kick you, you kick them harder. That's how I was brought up to play my football.
Look at the options to watch a nice gentle game in a different sport... that would be my suggestion for anyone offended by the ruffians playing nowadays.
59 Posted 10/12/2016 at 00:42:26
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1 Posted 05/12/2016 at 17:00:52