“I am reading catastrophic opinions on this, but there was no violence. Therefore, I believe Ibrahimovic will not receive more than a two-match ban. I also spotted Aronica’s gesture towards Antonio Nocerino that started the incident, but the referee did not.” – AC Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani.

No doubting the big story in Serie A on Sunday with Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off for a slap on Napoli’s Salvatore Aronica in the 0-0 draw.

Despite Galliani’s quote above, you have to wonder why the Swedish striker raised his hands at all and Zlatan now looks set to miss Scudetto defining matches with Udinese, Cesena and Juventus. In particular the final match of the three, against one of Ibrahimovic’s former clubs, looks absolutely crucial.

Looking at the bigger picture, it has long been said that Zlatan Ibrahimovic plays his worst football of the season during February and there certainly seems some evidence of that.

February 2011: 7 games, 1 goal. 2 yellow cards. Included the first leg Champions League defeat to Spurs and in the previous month, Zlatan had scored five goals in six games.

February 2010: 4 games, 2 goals. 1 yellow card. During his time at Barcelona, Ibrahimovic seemed immune from his February curse, although he did get sent off in his first match of March 2010.

February 2009: 5 games, 1 goal. 1 yellow card. Another underwhelming February despite playing with the best side in Italy at the time. Also marked a Champions League two-legged loss to Manchester United. In March 2009, Zlatan would score 5 goals in 4 games.

February 2008: 3 games, 1 goal. In the previous January the Swedish striker had notched 4 goals in 3 games, yet would again feature in a Champions League defeat to an English team – this time Liverpool.

February 2007: 2 games, 1 goal. Spent the first half of the month out with injury then returned for a Champions League knockout by Valencia.

It is fair to say Zlatan Ibrahimovic is pretty useless in February – when playing in Serie A – and this trend seems to have continued in 2012.

Intriguingly, if the former Juventus, Inter Milan and Barcelona striker is, as expected, handed a three-match Serie A ban, he only has two games left this month – both against Arsenal in the Champions League.

Which means Zlatan can take on two popular theories at the same time – the other being why is he so rubbish against English teams?