Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been labelled an 'arrogant, chest-puffing player' by the opponent whose throat he appeared to grab as Manchester United lost their heads at Fenerbahce on Thursday night.
Ibrahimovic will escape retrospective disciplinary action over his heated row with Simon Kjaer in Istanbul after his actions were spotted by the fourth official, who determined no sanction was necessary.
Centre back Kjaer clashed with Ibrahimovic on the touchline in the first half of United's 2-1 defeat and pictures appeared to show the Swedish striker raising a hand to the Dane's throat.
The pair have faced each other in Italy, France and on the international stage in the past and Kjaer said his memories of the 35-year-old gave the impression of an 'arrogant' man.
'I actually didn't hear what he said but I do know that he wasn't happy,' Kjaer told Swedish channel 9.
'But that's the way I know him from the pitch. He is the kind of chest-puffing player, who is arrogant. That is his way of playing.
'My way of playing is to mark him as tightly as possible and to give him as little space as possible, because he is a good player.
'It is a part of football and I don't take it too seriously. It is not the first time I play against him and I know how he reacts. It is not a problem. It is, like I said, a part of the game.'
The matter will not be subject to review by European governing body UEFA, and no retrospective action can take place.
Fenerbahce manager Dick Advocaat also played down the incident after the game, saying 'That is part of football. I don't talk about individuals.'
Michael Owen, speaking during his half-time punditry duties on BT Sport, also believed the striker didn't do enough to warrant a red card.
He said: 'Kjaer didn't much wrong when you look at the replay. He's just doing what he should do, he's just trying to win the ball but he doesn't do anything really – just a little of arms.
'That from Ibrahimovic is a little bit naughty. That's not a strike is it?'
Ibrahimovic, who has not scored in his last six games, had been an early replacement for the injured Paul Pogba as United were beaten 2-1 to slip to third in Group A.
The incident was symptomatic of a dreadful night for the Swede,who was given a 4.5 out of 10 in Sportsmail’s ratings for the game after he 'was too easily rattled by the Turkish side's rough tactics'. Mail Online