Reuters
LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimović is shown a red card during Monday's MLS game against Montreal Impact.
- Zlatan Ibrahimović has received his first red card as an MLS soccer player.
- The LA Galaxy striker slapped an opponent and then tried to con the match official by faking an injury.
- But Ibrahimović's really bad acting failed to convince the video assistant referee, who informed the official of the misdemenour.
- Ibrahimović was sent off in the 41st minute - but LA Galaxy went on to win 1-0 regardless.
Zlatan Ibrahimović received his first red card as an LA Galaxy player during an MLS match on Monday.
The veteran striker, renowned for scoring extraordinary goals that would not look out of place in a Hollywood highlight-reel, slapped an opponent and tried to con the match official with really bad acting.
In the 41st minute of a league game against Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo in Quebec, Ibrahimović slapped Michael Petrasso in the face after the Impact player seemingly stood on the former Manchester United striker's foot, according to BBC. Both players then collapsed on the floor like they had been shot.
Why Ibrahimović went down, only he knows - but he may have been trying to con the official by feigning an injury.
The match official then consulted his video assistant referee (VAR) - a football assistant who reviews decisions using video footage and a headset for communications - who alerted the official to the misdemenour.
The official, Ismail Elfath, then showed Ibrahimović a red card, eliminating him from the game. Petrasso was also booked.
Watch the bizarre series of events here:
The dismissal did not impact the game too much, as LA Galaxy went on to win 1-0 thanks to an Ola Kamara goal in the 75th minute.
Galaxy is currently in seventh place in the Western Conference.
VAR has spoken.
Zlatan sees red for the first time in MLS. pic.twitter.com/cdeu9s5gpb
- ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 21, 2018