Zlatan Ibrahimovic fancies life in France despite rant

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Chisinau (Moldova), March 26 (IANS) Paris Saint-Germain and Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic insisted that he's happy with his stay in France though there's a fallout because of his recent outburst.

The Ligue 1 champions' top-scorer said, ahead of Friday's Euro 2016 qualifier between his national team and Moldova here, that he loves his French footballing life.

Ibrahimovic was caught on camera after PSG's 2-3 loss to Bordeaux on March 15 saying, "in 15 years, I have never seen such a referee in this sh*t country. The country does not deserve PSG. We are too good for them.”

The 33-year-old will face a French football league (LFP) disciplinary commission hearing on April 9 over his foul-mouthed rant.

"I like it in France. I would not have played there for so long and I would not have renewed my contract if I did not like it. All the others, they just want to pull me down from the top but I will not go. I like it on top. That's where I'll stay," he said.

Ibrahimovic does, however, want a greater emphasis placed on referees. "We, the players, are punished, but not the referee."

The Swede is set to miss PSG's Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Barcelona after his sending off against Chelsea. Though the Paris team progressed despite Ibrahimovic's straight red card, the star forward felt he was wronged for tackling Oscar and the Brazilian had played his part in the referee's decision.

"Play-acting does not belong in my world and I play to win. I will do anything to win, but play-acting? Not that. It is out there, I do not know if it has become part of the game, but I hope not," he said.