FORMER Cherries hardman Jimmy Case slammed as "nonsense" Tyrone Mings's five-game ban for an apparent stamp on Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Centre-half Mings was on Wednesday handed a lengthy suspension by the Football Association after contesting the controversial incident at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old made contact with the head of the Manchester United striker as he attempted to hurdle him and Wayne Rooney on the edge of his own penalty area.

Mings did not face sanctions at the time, while Ibrahimovic temporarily escaped punishment after elbowing the visiting defender in the face moments later. However, the FA later intervened and Ibrahimovic accepted his three-game ban.

A tough-tackling midfielder during his playing days, ex-Liverpool and Southampton star Case felt Mings had been harshly dealt with and said it was impossible to tell whether the act had been deliberate.

Case told the Daily Echo: "You either let him off because it was an accident or give him three games. To go beyond the three games is a nonsense.

"You could look at it one million times and you would lean either way, half and half.

"In terms of the five games, that's two games extra. I feel that's a bit harsh. It is wrong to discipline him as much as they have.

"For me, the people who decided it have got it wrong."

The 62-year-old sympathised with Mings over his decision to look downwards momentarily before jumping over Ibrahimovic and Rooney, insisting that was no proof of a premeditated stamp.

Case said: "As Mings has gone in for the tackle, Ibrahimovic has gone to ground, and then as Mings has gone to get back in his rightful position, he has had to hurdle the two players.

"I know he looked down but you can't be certain whether he was looking at Ibrahimovic's head or looking at what he had to get across.

"He (Mings) might have looked down but he is still defending. You've got to look down. You are trying to concentrate on defending the goal."

Case felt Ibrahimovic's elbowing of his marker had been deliberate, arguing it had been "plain as day". And the former midfield enforcer believes Mings will enhance his previously-impeccable disciplinary record when he becomes available once more.

Case added: "He's got a good record and if he has a good record playing in that position then he's obviously a good player, because it's bad players who get bad records.

"I'm sure he will be okay in the future."

Despite his reputation as a hardman, Case never actually received a straight red card during his playing career, although he was sent off on a number of occasions for receiving two cautions.

The former England under-23 midfielder was signed by Harry Redknapp on a free transfer in June 1991 and was an experienced figure in Cherries' run to the FA Cup fourth round in the ensuing season.

He played 40 games that campaign as the Dorset club finished eighth in the Third Division.