Staff Reporter.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off for dissent as AC Milan beat Parma to maintain their slim Serie A title hopes.
The 39-year-old Sweden striker was shown a straight red card after an hour for saying something to the referee, with his side 2-0 up.
He had set up Ante Rebic for the first and was involved in Franck Kessie’s goal just before the break.
Riccardo Gagliolo gave Parma hope but Rafael Leao clinched it in injury time.
AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli said that Ibrahimovic informed him that he did not disrespect or offend the referee.
“I just talked to Zlatan, he told me that he argued with the referee and it lasted some time,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia. “He assured me that he did not disrespect him and above all he did not offend.
“What did he report to the referee? Zlatan said to me that he said ‘you really don’t care what I tell you’.”
Milan are eight points behind leaders Inter Milan, who face Cagliari on Sunday.
Before the game, Milan technical director Paolo Maldini said Ibrahimovic was close to signing a new deal with the club.
Serie A Weekend Results and Fixtures:
Saturday 10 April
Spezia 3-2 Crotone
Scorers: Verde 63, Maggiore 89, Erlic 90+2/ Djidji 40, Simy 78
Parma Calcio 1-3 AC Milan
Scorers: Gagliolo 67 / Rebic 8, Kessie 44, Leao 90+4
Udinese 0-1 Torino
Scorer: Belotti 61 pen
Sunday 11 April
12:30 Inter vs.Cagliari
15:00 Hellas Verona vs.Lazio
15:00 Juventus vs.Genoa
15:00 Sampdoria vs.SSC Napoli
18:00 Roma vs.Bologna
20:45 Fiorentina vs.Atalanta
Monday 12 April
20:45 Benevento vs.Sassuolo.