Sweden send Ibrahimovic and Mellberg home

Koen Freriks

4 september 2006, 22:50

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback has sent home three players from the squad which will face Liechtenstein after they broke a curfew during a night out.

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, defender Olof Mellberg and midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson have all been asked to leave the training camp in Gothenburg, where the team is preparing for this week's Euro 2008 qualifier, after staying out late on Sunday evening. A statement from the Swedish FA (SvFF) confirmed the trio had broken the rules.

"The national team have decided to send home three players, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Olof Mellberg and Christian Wilhelmsson, from the current training camp in Gothenburg," said the statement.

Mellberg's career in the national team has not been without previous controversy, having previously been pictured coming to blows with team-mate Freddie Ljungberg at the World Cup 2002 and rumours of further incidents between the two players during Sweden's latest campaign in Germany.

Mellberg stood down both as captain of Sweden and of Aston Villa after the World Cup. He was replaced by Ljungberg and Gareth Barry respectively.