Zlatan Ibrahimovic libelled by ex-athletics manager

Swedish court orders Ulf Karlsson to pay a fine of 24,000 Swedish crowns

Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic:  the Swedish court said “Ulf Karlsson gave the impression that Zlatan was doping during his time at  Juventus”. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters
Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic: the Swedish court said “Ulf Karlsson gave the impression that Zlatan was doping during his time at Juventus”. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters

A Swedish court found former national track and field team manager Ulf Karlsson guilty of aggravated libel against Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for suggesting he used performance-enhancing substances.

The district court in Karlstad ordered Karlsson to pay a fine of 24,000 Swedish crowns for comments, at an April 2016 panel discussion, about what he called a sudden weight gain by the 35-year-old, who is Sweden’s top goalscorer.

"The court's opinion is that in the context of what was said Ulf Karlsson gave the impression that Zlatan was doping during his time at Italian club Juventus. "