KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return to national team football has proved short-lived. Injury has forced the veteran Milan centre-forward to give up on any chance of playing for Sweden in the Euro 2020 finals.

National coach Janne Andersson has accepted that the 39-year-old will not be able to recover in time from a knee injury he suffered against Juventus in Turin.

Ibrahimovic, who scored a record 62 goals in 116 internationals before quitting after the team’s Euro 2016 group-stage exit, ended his five-year absence from national team football during the last international break. He provided an assist in a 1-0 Swedish victory over Georgia and another in a 3-0 win over Kosovo.

Last month Ibrahimovic became the subject of a UEFA investigation for “having an alleged financial interest in a betting company”.

Reports in Sweden had suggested he could face a a three-year ban – which would effectively end his career – for his partnership with a Malta-based betting company.

If found to be guilty, Ibrahimovic would be in violation of Article 12 (2) of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations. The rules refer to any individual who “participates directly or indirectly in betting or similar activities relating to competition matches or who has a direct or indirect financial interest in such activities”.
.
Ibrahimovic, who has denied all wrongdoing, was apopointed a brand ambassador for Bethard in March 2018.
Last month the former Manchester United and Barcelona striker, who returned to the Serie A club for a second spell in 2020, signed a contract extension with Milan until the end of next season.

###########