FA ´unimpressed´ by Adebayor´s antics

The Football Association confirmed on Sunday they would be taking a “good close look” at Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor’s controversial behaviour in the 4-2 win over his former club Arsenal.

City’s 25 million-pound summer signing left his mark on Saturday’s game in no uncertain fashion.

He first appeared to stamp on former team-mate Robin van Persie, leaving the Dutchman with a gashed face, and then ran the length of the pitch to taunt the Arsenal fans after scoring City’s third goal.

Referee Mark Clattenburg booked the Togo striker for his celebrations, which provoked fury among many Arsenal fans who had to be restrained by pitchside stewards, one of whom needed hospital treatment after being hit by a flying object in the melee.

And Adebayor could well face further disciplinary proceedings after FA chief executive Ian Watmore told BBC Radio 5 that the player’s actions would come under scrutiny.

He said: “I was pretty unimpressed really because the problems between the Arsenal fans and Adebayor are well documented, and he ran the whole length of the field to celebrate, so I think we’re going to have a good close look at that one on Monday when we see it properly in the cold light of day.

“I thought the stewards did a great job of calming the situation down and it was to Manchester City’s credit nothing worse happened.

“Our governance team will take a good look at both of the incidents that have been highlighted and will come to the media with the answers early next week.”

Watmore refused to speculate on the possible extent of any punishment which could be meted out to Adebayor, saying: “The punishments are the decision of the individual commission, if we get that far.”

City manager Mark Hughes appealed for leniency for his forward.

Hughes claimed not to have seen the van Persie incident and, citing the fact that his player issued a swift apology, added that he hoped the FA would not punish him for the provocative celebration.

Hughes said: “People have asked me about the stamp but I haven?t seen it so I can’t really comment but Adie understands that celebrating like that was the wrong thing to do.

“He’s an emotional guy and it was an emotional moment for him. I think he just wanted to enjoy the moment with the fans and he knew Arsenal fans were in the vicinity so it was the wrong thing to do.

“You need to cut him a bit of slack, given what he has been through the last 18 months or so. I’ve tried to explain the situation, how it developed, how it happened, I’ve no idea if the FA will do anything.”

Van Persie, however, was furious with Adebayor, accusing his former teammate of deliberately trying to hurt him.

“I am sad and disappointed by Emmanuel Adebayor’s mindless and malicious stamp on me during the match,” said the Dutchman.

“We are both professional footballers and I know that the game is physical. I, too, have made hard and sometimes mis-timed challenges but never with the intention of hurting an opponent. He set out to hurt me today.

“I feel lucky that I have not suffered a greater injury. The contact was only centimetres from my eye. I have not received an apology from him, there were no words exchanged afterwards. He had his own agenda today and that is bad for football.”

Adebayor himself was quick to issue an apology.

He said: “I’m very sorry for all this. Sometimes the emotion takes over and that’s what happened.

“I was very happy to score the goal. Before the game people have been saying and writing things about me and emotion took over. People who love me and know me know how I behave.”