GASHED - Robin Van Persie receives treatment after his clash with Emmanuel Adebayor

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR - I'M SO SORRY

Injury to Robin Van Persie was not deliberate, insists City ace

CLASH - 'Former team-mates Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin Van Persie

'Malicious' City striker faces three-game ban

'Malicious' Man City striker faces ban over Robin Van Persie clash

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By NEIL ASHTON, 12/09/2009

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR was forced to issue a grovelling apology after he STAMPED on Robin Van Persie and ran 80 yards to TAUNT Arsenal fans.

Van Persie was left dazed and bloody after Adebayor's studs raked down his face.

And Manchester police had to intervene when the former Gunners star celebrated in front of angry visiting fans despite scoring at the opposite end.

A photographer's stool was also hurled at the Togo striker as he slid on his knees after his 80th minute goal put Manchester City 3-1 up.

Disgraceful

It was a disgraceful display by the £25million-man and City sent him out to apologise immediately after the game.

Adebayor and Van Persie were hardly the best of friends at the Emirates. In fact, there was often open animosity between the two.

That appeared to spill over again when the pair clashed in the second half.

The best you could say about Adebayor's challenge was that it was clumsy. The worst that it had intent written all over it.

Gashes

"I couldn't get out of the way and I couldn't stop my feet," claimed the Togo international, after Van Persie was left nursing two gashes on the side of his face.

"He was on the floor and I saw him but I could not stop myself," the City striker added. "I am sorry him. I apologised at the time and I apologised after the game. I was going for the ball, I was trying to win it. That is the game, that is what happens.

"He fell to the floor, he fell down and then I tried to kick the ball. It is a tough game sometimes and these things happen.

"I was trying to kick the ball. He was in front of me, I tried to kick the ball.

Fight

"I touched his head, but I was trying to kick the ball. It wasn't deliberate or anything like that.

"In a game you have to fight for everything and now I'm fighting for Manchester City.

"At the end of the day it's about winning three points and that's what we have done."

But if Adebayor tried to excuse his lunge on Van Persie, there was no way he could wriggle out of blame for his 'celebration'.

He has publicly blamed Arsenal fans for driving him out of the club in the summer after they barracked him throughout last season.

Celebrated

But there was no excuse for his reaction, as he confessed: "I am sorry for the way I celebrated the goal.

"I want to say sorry to the Arsenal fans, the players and to Arsene Wenger.

"There was so much frustration building up, there had been so much spoken and said about me, so much written and so many things that were not so nice.

"It has been frustrating, of course I was fired up. I wanted to win this game so badly.

"It was such a big game for everyone for so many different reasons.

"It is a special game for everyone, including me.

Emotion

"I am a Manchester City player now, but not that long ago I was playing for Arsenal and that meant a lot.

"To be honest, all the emotion of the occasion just got the better of me.

"When I scored I could not stop.

"It was about seeing so many people, about the Arsenal players and about the Arsenal fans.

"They have been writing things and saying so much about me that I just lost control.

"I'd like to say sorry to so many people, this is not me, they know that.

"Arsene Wenger did so much for my career, he is a great man and a great manager.

Sorry

"I just got caught up in everything. I want to say sorry for what I did, it is important for people to understand that.

"I am so happy to score for City, I have scored in every Premier League game and I'm proud of my record."

Gunners' manager Wenger, though, was far from forgiving after the match.

He said: "I can't assess Adebayor's performance and I haven't seen the incident with Van Persie.

"His celebration was not of the biggest elegance but I can't control that."

City boss Mark Hughes went out of his way to defend his summer signing.

Clash

Hughes said: "People have asked me about the clash with Van Persie but I can't comment because I haven't seen it.

"I wouldn't like anything to be taken away from what we have achieved. I don't want it to overshadow the result.

"Emmanuel knows it was the wrong thing to do and he has apologised for it.

"What else can he do?

"He is an emotional boy and it was an emotional moment for him.

"He has had a very difficult 18 months, a lot has happened to him and he has been very upset.

"He's a nice person, but things have been very difficult for him.

"He can't do any more than apologise for what happened. He's an emotional boy."

Your comments

This article has 27 comments

you guys aint getting it! football is sensational if you guys have ever... ever ..ever set foot in a pair of football kicks.. life looks different!!! especially living a club with all frustrations and mindless boom talks on you. when you have a chance to play against your old club... you feel the hit, the zeal and the energy to do the best ok. so sometimes we need to see the other side of it and stop the mind and pull him down syndrome!!

did we see what happened in the England and croatia game>???? what are you guys saying about that????

cheap comments are cheap ok

By josh.. Posted September 15 2009 at 2:50 AM.

an arsenal fan,well ade wenger was right to sell u cause u were not coomitted to a club that made u whom u are today and u were talking about the fan 4 not supporting u,take an example from ronaldo from last season even when the fans were against him he moves on and prove the them wrong i will like the fa to ban u 5 matches cause u were out there to blind rvp eyes and what a disgrace u maggot

By darling.. Posted September 13 2009 at 8:55 PM.

he showed no intent to move in the slightest when he saw van persie, and after about 60 yards he would have calmed down enough to realise what he was doing, it wasnt his apology man city made him do it to try and stop all of this but he is in the wrong and he should be punished

By gary fitz.. Posted September 13 2009 at 8:40 PM.

What an idiot Adebayor is! His mercenary attitude stinks to the core.He should understand that Arsenal Fans will always be there despite setbacks which do happen in football. The idea is not to win at all costs, Adebayor is an idiot who needs re-education.

By George Timuri.. Posted September 13 2009 at 6:32 PM.

Am not man city nor Arsenal fan, from all indications and what i have read about Adebayo, he is complete disgrace to himself and shame. Not long ago, he fought a fan at the airport in Nigeria. A professional for that matter. Am not surprised, an illitrate from a poor background.

By Kenny.. Posted September 13 2009 at 6:09 PM.

Overpaid, overrated moron who spends most of his time offside or complaining. Good riddance to a miserable lazy player. Ok, so he scores....but there are plenty of strikers with much more elegance and integrity than he who come cheaper and with less attitude. Adbayor shall not be missed, he didn't have Arsenal va va voom!

By kiria.. Posted September 13 2009 at 3:16 PM.

V. Persie, Diddums do, you got what you deserved in trying to take Ade out from behind. Will Arsenal be censured for the vile behaviour of their fans who harangued Ade from kick off? No thought not, you were well beaten by a better side, bunch of losers!

By Batmanho, Roinhos Big Brother... Posted September 13 2009 at 2:47 PM.

Firstly, I would like to say that I was one of the Arsenal fans that stood by Ade last season despite his lazy, 'couldn't care less' attitude for the best part of the year (captured in full by the Euro leg at Man U, which clearly indicated his desire to be elsewhere earning mega bucks) and if I am totally honest wanted him to stay and display his ethics of previous seasons.

However since his departure he has shown a complete lack of respect towards Arsenal & their supporters! He has not once stopped moaning about how badly he was treated blah, blah, blah. He releases statement after statement condemning fans (who unlike him pay to see football not squeeze every penny out of a club only to desert them for.....oh yeah more pennies!), his former team mates & anyone else who dare not kiss his feet.

Despite the above, never would I imagine a 'professional' would stoop so low to run the full length of a football pitch to celebrate in front of fans who used to adore him, after scoring for the team whose badge he now kisses! Disgusting behaviour.

As if that wasn't bad enough to then attack Robin, who admittingly can give as good as he gets, with the studs of a boot (whilst he is on the ground) just shows his true class - perhaps that's why he 'belongs' in Manchester!

The apology since issued is pathetic. Mark Hughes' offer of thoughts in interview is doubly pathetic!

Someone really needs to have words with this fool.......

By Solphie nut.. Posted September 13 2009 at 2:39 PM.

it amazes me that city fans are actually trying to defend the actions of adebayour. ive watched the replays and it was a foregone stamp. you sound more and more like the chavs from chelsea every week. too much money, no tradition and no class.

as for the utd fans calling it abu dhabi utd. what are you guys on about? your owned by americans who wouldnt look out of place in family guy. chelsea and arsenal russian crooks. dont even get me started on liverpool.

By dan.. Posted September 13 2009 at 3:03 PM.

ANYONE who loves and UNDERSTANDS football CANNOT think that Ade's actions does not deserve a BAN.

THE GOAL CELEBRATION

To start with, crowd trouble has blighted our game and it took a number of years to turn it around. Ade as a recent Arsenal player could have caused a riot after the game.

THE STAMP

It is one thing for an opposing player to taunt opposing fans in that way and another for a RECENTLY TRANSFERRED from the OPPOSING TEAM to do it.

The study of body mechanic's dictate natural movement and there was nothing natural about a determined stamp on RVP's face. The ball was not in contention at that point.

THE SADNESS

If Man City fans think that their way to the top is by littering the park with BLINDED bodies and TURNING a blind eye to their players madness then they have clearly lost their souls. The true cost will make them the most hated club in the world.

I used to have every admiration for the City & the hard times they suffered. It was great that they got substantial investment and could get a dream pay back for their loyalty, but no more. Some of their comments have been those of mindless thugs and shame the game.

By Street Puppy.. Posted September 13 2009 at 11:13 AM.

I agree with Cris stat and both teams are called United one is Manchester United the other
Abu Dhabi United!

By Dave 42.. Posted September 13 2009 at 11:08 AM.

I agree with Cris stat and both teams are called United one is Manchester United the other
Abu Dhabi United!

By Dave 42.. Posted September 13 2009 at 11:08 AM.

disgraceful. At least a half season ban. This guy is seriously bad news. A bad person and a bad example for kids. Disgraceful. His actions and words make me sick.

By Richard.. Posted September 13 2009 at 11:05 AM.

Obviously he is facing a lengthy ban. Have you noticed since a newspaper's 'Stop the Cheats'
campain, Arsenal havn't won a point!

By Dave 42.. Posted September 13 2009 at 11:03 AM.

Adebayor is a disgrace to his team, to football and to all who loves this wonderful game. We don't need hooligans neither ON the pitch nor OFF it!

By Peter Green.. Posted September 13 2009 at 10:46 AM.

No matter what the result was or how van persie went in to challenge adebayor the reaction was appalling. If van persie stamped on adebayor all you city fans wouldn't be happy. Fair enough city were better than arsenal on the day but to all you man city fans saying were crap, who were city before you had all the money? you was a nothing team who spends extreme amounts of money on medioca players. Adebayor was lazy last season and he thought he deserved as much money as thiery henry did thats why the fans turned on him. And when i see city vs arsenal last season all you city fans were singing racist songs about him.

By 1 true gooner.. Posted September 13 2009 at 10:23 AM.

I am a Man United fan. I will try to be as honest as I could be about the incidents. I do not think that Adebayo meant to hurt Van Persie, I might be mistaken seeing it on my laptop online here in Austria. His celebration of a goal infront of the Arsenal fans are unexcusable, some punishments must be given for that and if experts found out that Van Persie-Adebayor incident was delibrate then a longer punishment ( more than 3 bans ) must be given for it was luck that Van Persie had only scratches.
Anyhow, we are meeting them next week and we shall tame them with or without him, it is a pity though the TeveZ will not be involved.

By Steve.. Posted September 13 2009 at 9:55 AM.

Harry G. You are a joke.

Anyway, about this topic.

If you cant take it dont give it......

Arsenal fans sang is name more than any other song yesterday so they must have really liked him when he was there, this is why he ran the length of the pitch ;-) Football is about passion and getting one over the team you are playing by scoring. This then causes the fans to get excited about scoring and peoples adrenalin pumps througn there body, this is why we as fans go to football. The way all this so called celebrate in a quite corner brigade are going, we wont celebrate any more.
I travel all over the country and many a player has celebrated near us or held there hand at there ear etc etc I shout and scream like the majority, but never have I thrown anything on the pitch or tried to get on the pitch, due to I know what is right from wrong and that I go to football to be entertained. This is the entertainment industry and some people have other ideas about what is acceptable and not. If you want to shout at the baddy but dont like it when he shouts back go to a panto, its cheaper.

The people I really feel sorry for are the lads who sit behind me..... They had 4-1 at 100-1, they had a reason to shout, but funny how they didnt throw anything as Arsenal scored the second.

By Fredregos.. Posted September 13 2009 at 9:14 AM.

Yet another manager who is totally blind and didnt see the incident !!! Although I know why they say it - when you see blatant stamping like that they have no excuse.

As its Arsenal with that little gobby get and Wenger then its no major issue hahah V

By Mark.. Posted September 13 2009 at 9:00 AM.

Stop whinging assnal fans ..your a disgrace - he once was your player ...you BOOOOOD him...whilst he was playing for your crappy club..

Get over it -

CITY TO RULE THE WORLD -

BELIEVE IT

NUFF SAID!!

By BLUEBOY!! MANCHESTER NOT LONDON!!.. Posted September 13 2009 at 8:58 AM.

it was done with intent and just a fraction of a inch he could of had rvp eye out. we are well rid of him. he should of gone last year and then none of this would of happened. he needs a long ban, to show that footballers can,t get away with this sort of attitude.

By brenda gregory.. Posted September 13 2009 at 8:42 AM.

Let's get one point clear: he did not apologize for the stamping or for the taunting. He apologized that his celebration might be seen as taunting.

By jon ward.. Posted September 13 2009 at 7:57 AM.

Emmanuel--you were very foolish!
Certainly so with all the youngsters watching!!
Smarten up sir!

By Chris strat.. Posted September 13 2009 at 7:32 AM.

im a red but well done city now we have 2 teams in manch i hope between the 2 of us we win everything this season arsenal are just bad losers they always have a complaint no competition from arsenal again another empty season 4 them ha ha yea ha

By patsy.. Posted September 13 2009 at 6:33 AM.

Overpaid stamper who I am glad left Arsenal.
Something must be done to as a punishment.

1. For mistaking RVPs head for the ball.
2. Running all the way down to celebrate in front of the fans that once paid your salary.

By afc.. Posted September 13 2009 at 5:07 AM.

Someone advise Adebayo to stop talking about Arsenal and move on get a life Ade-you in the team of your dream Earning Lots Serve your ban and move on (Arsenal Fan), yes i dont like you but dont hate you either Jim

By Gima Bello.. Posted September 13 2009 at 12:54 AM.

If Fifa want to clean up football then they should ban Mr.Adebayor for the rest of the season. He is a disgrace to football with a challenge like that. Funny that it was against Arsenal but completely repellent. 6 month ban like Cantona please Fifa!!!!

By Harry G.. Posted September 12 2009 at 11:50 PM.

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