Ibra ban upheld for Juve match

The Italian Football Federation today upheld a three-game ban given to AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, meaning the forward will miss Saturday's crunch match against Juventus. Ibrahimovic was banned for three games after being sent-off against Napoli on 5 February for slapping Salvatore Aronica across the face. Milan appealed the decision hoping to have one match taken off the ban, thus clearing him to play against Juve this weekend. However, that appeal has now been rejected. Last year Milan appealed another Ibrahimovic ban for violent conduct when he hit an opponent in the ribs and won, earning a one-game reduction, only for the Swede to be sent-off on his return.