Adebayor regrets RVP stamp

But striker insists he was provoked regarding celebration

Last updated: 7th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Adebayor regrets RVP stamp

Adebayor: Claims over Arsenal exit

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Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor confesses that he regrets his stamp on former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie.

The Togo star swapped Emirates Stadium for Eastlands this summer and his first reunion with his ex-colleagues was marred by controversy.

Adebayor received a three-game suspension for his attack on Van Persie, while the forward was handed a suspended ban for celebrating in front of Arsenal fans.

The former Gunners ace now admits that he was wrong to stamp on Van Persie and that he wishes he had not performed the act.

Adebayor was quoted as saying by the Evening Standard: "It's one of the things that you can't do in football. That's for sure.

Annoy

"It's true that if someone did that to me it would annoy and hurt me. I regret it, for sure."

Meanwhile, Adebayor - who returned from his ban in Monday's draw at Aston Villa - claims he was told to leave Arsenal by manager Arsene Wenger.

He said: "I talked with the coach and he told me I was one of Arsenal's best-paid players, that the club was in the red, so maybe they wouldn't be able to pay me any more - it would be better for me to go.

"I asked him, 'Is it your choice or the club's?' He answered, 'It's everybody's choice, from the whole club'. I was pushed out!"

He added: "Everybody says Adebayor went for the money. I think a lot of people are wrong because Arsenal bought me for five or six million and they sold me three-and-a-half years later for £25million.

Money

"So people should know that it's not me who wanted to leave for money, it's Arsenal that forced me to go."

Adebayor has also repeated his claim that insults from Arsenal fans provoked his goalscoring celebration in City's 4-2 win over the Gunners in September.

He said: "I think we are all human beings and there are things we can stand and others we can't. We all have limits. I'm lucky that my mother is still alive. I think I would never accept things being said and done regarding my mother.

"When I heard the fans singing and insulting my parents . . . I couldn't stand it. When I scored, I wanted to show them, 'You kicked me out of the club, now I've scored against you.' It was a response to what happened, but I did not in any way want to provoke them.

"My relationship with Arsenal has broken in two. I wanted to stay. It's true that I didn't score a lot of goals last season, but I was often injured."

Comments (49)

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Saad Ahmed (Aston Villa fan) says...

Ade cant you just keep your mouth shut..show some respect to the club who made you...No one knew you before coming to arsenal arsenal made you into a player you are right now.. I saw the way you celebrated after scoring against us ,after seeing that i wished you should have never played for us.We are proud of some of the players who played for us like henry,pires and the list goes on.Ade you can never make this list . Stop insulting Arsenal and yourself.My Brotherly advice to you "ADE PLEASE SHUTUP!!!!"

Posted 06:49 9th October 2009

Shane Garrott (Arsenal fan) says...

Well All I would like to say is well done for admitting it...after your ban of course. He thinks that admitting it will get him more respect, Adebayor needs to get a grip. I didn't once hate him, even when he left, same goes for Toure, but the way he's going on like he was our top striker, pathetic. The fans boo him and jeer him, what do you expect them to do, be happy? Fans pay money in the end of the day, the players get money, if he's getting 80k a week he should earn that 80k a week. If he can't hack the abuse, he should have left the premiership.

Posted 03:33 9th October 2009

Adrian Julian (Arsenal fan) says...

Take a look at the games between ARSENAL and Man Untd form the 08/09 campaign and you look at Adbayor's performance. There you will see what amounted to almost zero effort. These are some of the reasons the fans might have been on his case. This season the fans have been on RVP's case as he has not scored enough goals. He himself acknowleded that fact and has set out to make the fans proud. Great players accept negative criticism and rise above it. Adebayor, this would mean we should not consider you to be great. Should ARSENAL fans be blamed for demanding 100% from their players and throwing a fit if they see sub-par performances? If anyone on this forum got 25mil for a player who put out little effort, who would be crazy enough not to sell? Bye Bye Adebayor Bye Bye!!!!

Posted 20:00 8th October 2009

James Stepney (Arsenal fan) says...

The first time the Arsenal fans turned on Adebayor was last season when he tried getting himself out of the club and off to Ac Milan, after that he signed a new contract and tried making out he loved the club but on the pitch he was so lazy it was unbeleavable, if he had put some effort in the fans would have forgot that after just ONE good season he thought he was too big for the club but for the entire campaign he just got caught offside constantly and did very little to try and win over the fans that once loved him, fair enough he left, which by the way every Arsenal fan wanted, and no we wouldn't want him back not now, not ever!.. But now all he can do is go on and on and on about the Arsenal fans, players and club in general, he's got no respect for anyone and all of you City fans will realise that when a bigger club then you comes in for him, enjoy it whilst it last! (Another 10 Months)..

Posted 19:33 8th October 2009

Mark Young (Arsenal fan) says...

Adebayor is a mercenary, pure and simple. Arsenal are better off without him and its only a matter of time before he starts sulking at man city and comes off the boil.

Posted 19:06 8th October 2009

Lee Won pen (Manchester City fan) says...

What's wrong with celebrating? It adds to the excitement, it's only stupid fans who want to cause riots who make a big deal about it. Neville celebrated in front of City fans, he got stick back but no riots, no injured stewards. Just shows how poor arsenal fans' are.

Posted 07:46 7th October 2009

Sam Nicholls (Arsenal fan) says...

Adebayor was a good player for us ! but thats about it. Hes talking like he was a great.Yeah he scored some good goals but hes no Henry! His attitude in his last season was not good.He wasnt putting the effort in like the other players. Arsenal fans paid his wages. pay good money to watch there team perform.and when you see one of you players not you have a right to let him know. If Ade wanted to stay that much he would have.

Posted 07:43 7th October 2009

Steve Arney (Arsenal fan) says...

"John Taylor (Manchester City fan) says... Arsenal fans are certainly scorned but I suspect deep down they would love him back at the club." What would we want him back for we now have a team spirit and ability to match anyone and to top it all we are the top scorers in the league without him !! The team spirit within the squad now could never have been matched with his attitude in the dressing room and I say good riddance we are better off without him... I am sure when one of the big european clubs are prepared to match his wages he'll be off again as he like most these days show little loyalty !!!

Posted 07:40 7th October 2009

Hardeep Johal (Chelsea fan) says...

Fans should understand that players are human beings that have feelings as well, and if fans are prepared to abuse players, then be prepared to take the flack when the shoes on the other foot.

Posted 06:06 7th October 2009

Cyril Karwa (Arsenal fan) says...

What the hell is wrong with this boy? Can't he ever just stop talking about Arsenal. You are not the first player to leave Arsenal against your will. Pires does not keep bad-mouthing the club and yet he contributed more to Arsenal than you ever did. Arsenal fans hate you. Get over it and keep enjoying your money you greedy mercenary.

Posted 06:00 7th October 2009

Blue Cowboy (Manchester City fan) says...

There's a lot of bitter Arsenal fans on here who want to turn a blind eye to one of their own "class acts", Van Priceless. They seem to forget that his two footed lunge at Manu was the catalyst for the incident and his foul mouthed goal celebration directed at City fans also seems to have escaped their attention. We didn't retaliate like a bunch of illiterate schoolboys. The problem with Arsenal and it's fans is that they seem to think they have a god given right to be at the top of the table and when things don't go their way they show no class. I still can't get over how you booed Eboue off the pitch last season. An utter disgrace to treat one of your own like that. Shame on you, and when we take your fourth spot this season it will be no more than you deserve.

Posted 05:50 7th October 2009

Antony Williams says...

He will never play in a team like arsenal again???? he is at a team that beat arsenal 4-2!!! what does that say? and Im not even a man city fan

Posted 05:47 7th October 2009

Hassan Al hassany (Chelsea fan) says...

I just cannot wait to see what the Arsenal fans and players will do to Adebayor at the Emirates. At the moment, I doubt that he will be on the bench yet in the starting XI

Posted 05:27 7th October 2009

Geronimo L (Leeds United fan) says...

What an idiot and coward. He only comes out to admit that he stamped RVP after his suspension. Football abuses happens anywhere and everywhere even in minor leagues. If he can't take the abuse, he shouldn't be playing or paid to play football. He should learn a thing or two from people like Eboue who was jeered and came back stronger this season. If you want respect earn go out there to earn it rather that shooting your mouths off.

Posted 04:55 7th October 2009

Billy Kydd says...

Arsenal armchair fans are with out a doubt the most hypocritical in the Country. I doubt any posters on these boards are paying fans because what is it 5 years without a trophy? Wenger is God. Yeah right when you are watching the games on the telly. Not when you are paying 45 quid + a match.

Posted 04:06 7th October 2009

Ganny D (Arsenal fan) says...

Ade should just shut up! What he did to to RVP and Arsenal fan was unexcusable.

Posted 03:54 7th October 2009

Peter Tan (Arsenal fan) says...

To be honest we Gunners should not be too extreme in dealing with this sort of situation. I do understand that we shouldnt have booed Ade. No one could ever understand how much boos from their OWN fans could have hurt the players. If I were him, I would have left for Man City as well. I dont think his intention to leave for AC Milan was for money either. Keep in mind that AC Milan were a big contender for UEFA Champions League and with the depth of our team, we simply were not good enough. So there's no point to blame him now. And we've made 20 million of profits didnt we? Afterall it's a good business for us! P/S: Btw, I thought we should have sold Kolo Toure for more than 15m.

Posted 03:50 7th October 2009

Tito Sanchez (Arsenal fan) says...

Somehow Adebayor has got it into his head that Arsenal have done him an injustice and has been acting like a spoiled child whose favorite toy was taken away. Too bad. He is a gifted athlete and when fit and motivated, he can be a joy to watch.

Posted 03:21 7th October 2009

Glyn Jenkins (Manchester City fan) says...

So all you Arsenal fans don't like Ade. Fair enough! Leave it there. He's a City player now so why are you still going on at him? Do you really think he would have rubbed it in if you hadn't been giving him grief for the whole game? And now one of you is threatening even more abuse when we play you at the Emirates... Well what a great advert for the British game you are - concentrate on your own team, minus Ade, and support your club instead of threatening a player adored by his new club. There is no rooom in football for hooligans, thugs and abuse. Roy Keane purposely went into game knowing he was going to assault Haaland - that's a thug. Ade did something dispicable to RVP in the heat of a moment and he has apologised for it, he's been punished for it and he has now said he regrets it. What do you want? Blood? Actually dont answer that - I'm not sure the real football fans in the world want to hear the answer!!!!

Posted 02:31 7th October 2009

Gab Emordi (Liverpool fan) says...

Some of you supporters are the biggest hypocrites going. You think that insulting people and bringing their family into it is acceptable in a civilised society? And then the guy scores a goal and all the people who have been spouting out pure filth throughout the game are outraged! You made 20 million on the guy, you admit you didn't want him, you insult him and then expect no celebration when he scores? Richard Dunne was treated with more respect by the City fans, that is why he did not celebrate. Look at yourselves before condemning someone else. Van Persie is a trouble maker and the ref should have booked him for the challenge before the stamp in any case. He's admitted he made a mistake with the stamp, get over it.

Posted 01:44 7th October 2009
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