Man City to fight Adebayor charge

Manchester City will fight the Football Association’s improper conduct charge against Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor after his goal celebration against his former club Arsenal last weekend.

After scoring in City’s 4-2 win over the Gunners, Adebayor sprinted the length of the Eastlands pitch to the far end of the stadium where Arsenal’s supporters were massed and slid to his knees with his arms out-stretched, sparking volatile scenes as the visiting fans threw missiles at him.

However, City manager Mark Hughes confirmed on Friday that the club would be contesting the charge.

Adebayor is already starting a three-match ban after accepting a violent conduct charge for a stamp on Arsenal’s Robin van Persie.

“We have time to construct our arguments. We have a view and a period of time to make our feelings known,” Hughes said.

“It is important you do not take the emotion out of the game. It is part and parcel of what football is about and why it is such a huge sport worldwide.

“The circumstances of the game and the amount of criticism and vitriol Ade had to take was not nice. It was a difficult situation for him coming up against former team-mates.

“Some of those former team-mates felt they could not even shake his hand before the game. All these things can perhaps affect someone’s emotional state. The celebration was an outpouring of that.

“I also feel there are comparisons to be made with Ade’s celebration and the reaction of van Persie when he scored.”