Friday 10 March 2017 13:50, UK
Eddie Howe has defended Tyrone Mings after he was given a five-match ban for appearing to stamp on Zlatan Ibrahimovic's head, labelling the defender a "gentle giant".
Mings was charged with violent conduct following the incident during Bournemouth's 1-1 draw with Manchester United last Saturday.
Ibrahimovic was handed a three-match ban for his subsequent elbow on Mings but the Bournemouth defender received a longer suspension, following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Wednesday, as the FA deemed the standard punishment was "clearly insufficient".
Bournemouth later released a statement saying they found it extraordinary the charges had been proven. Manager Howe also believes what Mings did was unintentional and that he is not capable of deliberately doing such an action.
"We are disappointed for Tyrone, we feel it was accidental and everything we feel is in our statement," Howe said.
"I don't think he has that kind of streak in him although he is a beast by stature, he is a gentle giant, on and off the pitch.
"I see a defender who has made a very good tackle trying to get back to his goal as quickly as possible. His focus is on the ball, not on what lies beneath him.
"You can make any interpretation you want, you can see what you want to see, but I think people who understand the game to a really high level - especially being a defender myself - will know that your only priority is to defend your goal."
On Friday, Mings took to Twitter to speak of his "extreme disappointment" at the ban.
The 23-year-old will now miss Bournemouth's games against West Ham, Swansea, Southampton, Liverpool and Chelsea.
He will next be available for the Cherries' trip to Tottenham on April 15, which is live on Sky Sports.
