Former Barcelona and Celtic striker Henrik Larsson, now with Swedish side Helsingborg, has been for two matches by the Swedish FA on Friday.


The incident goes back to the match Helsingborg vs. Elfsborg on August 19, when Larsson was accused of punching defender Jon Jonsson during the match. The referee did not see Larsson´s action but Larsson was caught by television. This prompted an investigation by the Swedish Football Association. Larsson said in his statement he had not used his fist but admitted he had pushed Jonsson with his open hand and that the blow was not hard.


The Swedish FA decided that the blow took place in retaliation for Jonsson´s actions against Larsson and not to get him free. Larsson therefore has committet an offence of current regulations and there has been penalised with a 2 match ban.


The two games Larsson will miss include one against Helsingborg's local south Sweden rivals Malmo.

Former Barca and Celtic idol Henrik Larsson made his debut with his new hometown club Helsingborg IF.


He started the new Swedish campaign with a 3-1 away win over club Hammarby. Goalgetter Larsson played for 65 minutes but did not score for his new club. Henrik Larssons debut came just 2 weeks after Sweden's elimination from the World Cup in Germany and a short break at his house near the beach in the town of Gavámar, 12 km South of Barcelona.


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Barca striker and Champions League hero Henrik Larsson believes Sweden can reach the World Cup final in Germany this summer.


Since 1958, Sweden have only made it past the second round once in 1994, but Larsson is convinced that the current Swedish team can go all the way to the world cup final:

"The game against Trinidad & Tobago is very important for us and we must go out and do our very best. The goal must of course be that in the long run we can go all the way to the final. If you don't think that then you don't have anything to play for in a tournament like this We are more or the less same players in the squad compared with four years ago which means more experience which is good for everyone in the squad. Now, all players in the squad have got a responsibility and it is very important that everyone lives up to that responsibility if the team want to succeed."

Despite turning 35 this year, Henrik Larsson did not rule out continuing playing on an international level for Sweden after the World Cup:

"Let us see after this tournament and after I have made my comeback with Helsingborg in July. When I came back into the national squad in 2004 I promised myself to never say never again, but I am back in Sweden now and after that, let us see. It all depends on if I feel good and if I still can supply anything and if coach Lagerback still wants me. But all this is a question for the future."

Swedish international Henrik Larsson stated: "Winning the Champions League was the highlight of my career".
Barcelona striker Henrik Larsson is leaving Barca at the top of his footballing career to join his hometown Club Helsingborg.


Now Larsson intends to finish his international career with Sweden in a similar manner.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has admitted trying to tempt the 34-year-old back to Parkhead from Barcelona. 34-year-old Henrik Larsson enjoyed seven successful years in Glasgow and it has emerged that not only Larsson´s current club FC Barcelona tried to persuade him to stay for another year. Celtic Glasgow´s chief executive Peter Lawwell made a final attempt to re-sign the Swedish international but Henrik Larsson has turned down a return to Celtic´s Parkhead in favour of a move to his hometown Club Helsingborg to end his successful career back in Sweden.


Henrik Larsson´s agent Rob Jansen revealed in the scottish newspaper Daily Record:
"It is correct. Peter spoke with myself and Henrik but he was told 'no' very quickly. Once Henrik's mind is made up it's very difficult to change it. The bottom line is Henrik wants to go back to Sweden to end his career - a decision he made some time ago. Was he tempted? I would say it was more a case of him being honoured because Celtic will always have a special place in his heart. But he had made his decision by the time Celtic appeared. He had already decided to go to Helsingborg and the contract was signed."


Also Celtic chief executive Lawwel commented in the Daily Record about the final try to re-sign Larsson:

"Yes, I spoke to Henrik and I spoke to his agent Rob Jansen. But three words into it we were told "NO". So there was no point in pushing it any further as Henrik had made up his mind. If it had been anyone else then you would feel you had a chance but with Henrik Larsson we didn't have a chance. He has signed a contract with Helsingborg and they have sold season books on the back of it so there was no going back. We knew he had made his mind up."


Also FC Barcelona´s technical staff and Barca supporters have tried to persuade Henrik Larsson to stay at Barcelona but all efforts had been without success.