Adebayor insists ban would be unfair

Sep 14, 2009, 9:28 GMT

London - Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor claimed on Monday that there is no reason for the Football Association to punish him over the incidents that marred his side's 4-2 victory over Arsenal.

Adebayor provoked fury among fans of his former club by running the length of the field to celebrate in front of them after scoring the goal that put City 3-1 up in the 80th minute.

They pelted him with missiles, leaving one steward needing hospital treatment.

Nine minutes earlier he had raked his studs down the face for former team-mate Robin van Persie with what is alleged to have been a deliberate stamp.

Van Persie later called his actions 'mindless and malicious.' FA chief excutive Ian Watmore confirmed there would be an inquiry, but Adebayor remained unrepentant.

'I don't know what I have done wrong to get banned,' he said. '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 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.

'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?' he said.