Source: Daily_Mail
Mark Hughes backs up Adebayor, insisting there was no malice
Mark Hughes has jumped to the defence of Emmanuel Adebayor as the Manchester City striker faced the prospect of being charged for stamping on Robin van Persie's face and antagonising Arsenal fans after he scored at Eastlands.
It seems certain the Football Association will this week charge the £25million forward with violent conduct after he drew blood from the Dutchman during Saturday's 4-2 win.
Van Persie issued a statement on Saturday denying he had received an apology from his former team-mate and claimed the 'mindless and malicious' challenge was deliberate.
But City boss Hughes has now contradicted those claims and said: 'There has been much discussion over the weekend regarding the various incidents in the game which is understandable.
'Emmanuel sustained a tremendous amount of personal abuse from the kick-off but strongly maintains there was no malice intended in the challenge on Robin van Persie and apologised to him when he hugged him on leaving the pitch at the end of the game.
'The referee had a great view of the challenge from Ade and the one that preceded it by Van Persie and deemed at the time neither were worthy of either a yellow or red card.'
HAVE YOUR SAY...
Does Emmanuel Adebayor deserve his double FA charge? Emmanuel Adebayor is set to be banned for at least three matches for his Eastlands rampage. The Man City striker has been charged by the FA with violent conduct over his alleged stamp on Robin van Persie and improper conduct for his goal celebration. Does he deserve to face those charges?
Adebayor is also expected to face a separate charge for his inflammatory goal celebration, 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.
Hughes added: 'As for Ade’s emotionally charged goal celebration, which has also prompted debate, there have been
similar such celebrations in recent times.
'We expect high standards of behaviour from our players and it is easy in the cold light of day, when the adrenaline has died down, to talk about what players should and shouldn’t do in that situation.
'Ade immediately apologised but we know the FA will be reviewing the matter.'
And Adebayor sees no reason why he should be punished.
He said: '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?'
Although Clattenburg gave Adebayor a yellow card for his goal celebration, he is set to confirm he did not see the incident involving Van Persie, meaning Adebayor could be punished on a charge of violent conduct using video evidence.
Rule 3 (1) of the FA's Rules of the Association dictates: 'A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.'
