Source: Telegraph
Emmanuel Adebayor awaits FA action on apparent stamp and goading of Arsenal fans
t seems certain the FA will this week charge the £25 million Manchester City forward with violent conduct after van Persie was left with a bloodied face when Adebayor appeared to kick out at the Dutchman, with video evidence to be reviewed by the governing body after the match referee failed to take action at the time.
Adebayor is also expected to face a separate charge for his inflammatory goal celebration, when he ran virtually the full length of the pitch to celebrate his headed goal in front of the away supporters, which could bring additional punishment.
FA chief executive Ian Watmore yesterday confirmed they would "take a good close look" at both incidents, the latter of which referee Mark Clattenburg decided was worthy of a booking.
"Our governance team will definitely look at both of the incidents that have been highlighted," said Watmore, who was at the game.
"The punishments are the decisions of individual commissions, if we get that far, so let's just look at the facts in the cold light of day on Monday morning.
"I was pretty unimpressed because the problem between Arsenal fans and Adebayor is well documented. He ran the whole length of the field to celebrate."
But former Arsenal striker Adebayor, said afterwards: "I don't know what I have done wrong to get banned. I have not heard the police or FA want to talk to me. The club have not said anything.
"I heard that a steward was injured (when fans threw missiles) and I regret that. I have apologised to Robin van Persie.
"It was silly to run up in front of the Arsenal fans. But these people have been insulting me all game."
He added: "I didn't plan it, not at all. I didn't even know that I would score. The way things were going from the warm-up, at the end it came into my head.
"I would like to apologise to the steward for what happened, why not?"
Van Persie branded Adebayor's challenge a "mindless and malicious stamp."
"I, too, have made hard and sometimes mistimed challenges," Van Persie said in a damning and forthright statement issued on Arsenal's official website.
"But never with the intention of hurting an opponent. He set out to hurt me. I feel lucky that I have not suffered a greater injury. The contact was only centimetres from my eye."
