Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 'I like it on top. That's where I'll stay'

PSG striker claims his anti-French comments were blown out of proportion by those who want to 'pull me down'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off on Sunday night (GETTY IMAGES)

Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has claimed he has only love for his French footballing life, amid the fall-out from his outburst earlier this month.

Ibrahimovic will face a French Football League (LFP) disciplinary commission hearing on April 9 over comments he made after PSG's 3-2 loss to Bordeaux on March 15.

The Swede was at the time caught on camera saying: "He's an a******. Play 15 years, never seen referee this s*** country. Don't even deserve PSG should be in this country. F****** too good for all of you. Should be happy they exist."

French sports minister Patrick Kanner had called on Ibrahimovic to apologise, which he later did in a social media post, and the mercurial forward has once again played down the impact of his rant.

At a press conference ahead of Sweden's Euro 2016 qualifier against Moldova, Ibrahimovic, in quotes reported in the Swedish media, said: "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, all that b******t, 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."

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

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) next to referee Lionel Jaffredo during PSG's loss at Bordeaux (GETTY IMGES)

While Ibrahimovic did score a hat-trick for PSG against Lorient in the last round of Ligue 1 fixtures before the international break, he is set to miss their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Barcelona after his sending off against Chelsea.

His tackle on Oscar earned him a straight red, though PSG did progress in the end, but Ibrahimovic feels the Brazilian had played his part in the referee's decision.

"Play-acting does not belong in my world and I play to win," Ibrahimovic said. "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."