You are the Ref No345: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Featuring: a hair flick; a rash second tackle; and the tightest shorts in the world

Click to enlarge, and debate the strip below the line.

Keith Hackett's verdict

1) Show two yellows, then a red. But it's poor game management, really. It's always a risk to play advantage after a cautionable offence – I'd suggest that you should only ever do it when the next kick of the ball would either go into the net, or would set up a clear goalscoring chance. But whenever you play advantage in these circumstances, you should always make every effort to shout to the player concerned that he has committed a yellow card offence as play continues, to avoid this sort of dispute. Thanks to Telichko Asreniy.
2) Snug-fitting tops are increasingly common – and there's no reason to intervene here. The law on equipment says that players cannot wear anything that is dangerous, and stipulates the basic kit as a jersey or shirt with sleeves, plus shorts, socks, shinguards and footwear. This kit does not contravene any obvious section of the law, so you should let them wear it. Thanks to Neil Denton.
3) A tough one, this. The player's ponytail has to be considered part of his person – there's nothing in the laws about how long hair should or should not be, just so long as it does not represent a danger to opponents. So, in this case, the indirect free-kick has touched a player on its way into the net, and no outside agent has been involved. It's a goal. Dr Mike Lambert wins the shirt

You are the Ref book
Photograph: Observer

Special offer

Get two books from the You are the Ref series for the special price of £10. Visit bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99.

Modern football shirt
Photograph: Observer

Competition: win a T-shirt of your choice

For a chance to win a Philosophy Football T-shirt of your choice from the Guardian sport range send us your questions for You are the Ref to you.are.the.ref@observer.co.uk. The best scenario used in each new strip wins a T-shirt; Terms apply. For more on You are the Ref's history, click here.

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
263. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, PSG

Featuring: An offensive tattoo, a jinking winger and an over-excited nipper

21, Nov, 2013 @9:00 PM

Article image
No7: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden

He might be fiesty, but on our Patented Michael Owen Prospect-o-Meter, we give this Swede 10 out of 10.

Scott Murray

07, May, 2002 @9:58 AM

Article image
Football quiz: Cristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

Today's questions are not short of ego

Paul Campbell

21, Oct, 2013 @1:54 PM

Article image
Manchester United confirm signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a one-year contract

Guardian sport

01, Jul, 2016 @5:06 PM

Article image
Football transfer rumours: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Chelsea? | Rob Smyth
Arsenal eye new goalkeeper | Stoke and Birmingham scrap over Andy Carroll | Roy Hodgson looking for centre-forward

Rob Smyth

03, Jun, 2010 @7:52 AM

Article image
Is Zlatan Ibrahimovic worth 66 million euros?
The new van Basten or Barcelona's downfall? The striker goes back to Inter this week doing what he does best: dividing opinions

Paul Hayward

12, Sep, 2009 @11:10 PM

Article image
Football transfer rumours: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Chelsea?
Bayern compete with United for Mané? | Klopp asks for Balotelli swap? | Arsenal move for Carvalho?

Nick Miller

04, Dec, 2015 @9:12 AM

Article image
Football transfer rumours: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester City?
Robin van Persie moseying to Manchester United? | Luis Suárez beating a path to Barcelona ? | Steven Pienaar slinking off to Sunderland

Ian McCourt

17, May, 2012 @8:17 AM

Article image
How Manchester United became the Zlatan Ibrahimovic show | Paul Wilson
N’Golo Kanté’s Chelsea impact has been phenomenal but he has not carried his team in the way the brilliant Swede has carried José Mourinho’s Manchester United

Paul Wilson

25, Feb, 2017 @5:57 PM

Article image
Football transfer rumours: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United?
Mario Götze to Liverpool? Garry Monk to take over at Aston Villa? Isco to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City?

Paul Doyle

25, Mar, 2016 @12:48 PM