PARIS, France (AFP) — Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are appealing against Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s four-match ban to the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF), France’s highest sporting authority, sources confirmed to AFP yesterday.

Ibrahimovic, 33, received the ban for comments attacking France and its referees after a 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux, and will miss upcoming Ligue 1 games against Nice, Lille, Metz and Nantes.

If the CNOSF quickly decide to appoint a mediator, Ibrahimovic’s sanction would be suspended and the Swedish forward could return to the pitch while awaiting a final decision.

The mediator can decide to confirm the sanction, propose a different sanction or send the player before a disciplinary commission.

PSG are still in the running for an unprecedented four trophies after winning the League Cup last weekend, and Ibrahimovic’s absence would be a blow to their chances.

The Ligue 1 champions already take on Barcelona in the Champions League today without him after the tempestuous striker was suspended for his sending off against Chelsea in the last 16.

And playing against Bordeaux, Ibrahimovic was left furious at refereeing decisions in the game which PSG lost despite his two goals, and the striker appeared to insult a match official as he left the field.

And he went on: “In 15 years, I have never seen such a referee. In this shit country, this country does not deserve PSG. We are too good for this country.”

Amid a political furore, Ibrahimovic quickly made a video apology for the comments.

Marseille have already appealed to the CNOSF against French international Dimitri Payet’s two-match ban after he was also caught on film insulting a referee in a foul-mouthed rant.

The day after the sanctions both PSG and Marseille announced they would be boycotting Canal Plus for broadcasting the offensive comments made by their players.