No regrets as Adebayor stresses role of Arsenal abuse

Emmanuel Adebayor insists he has no regrets over his controversial behaviour in Manchester City's win over his former club Arsenal.

Adebayor has been hit with a three-match ban after being found guilty of violent conduct following a stamp on Arsenal striker Robin van Persie's head during last weekend's match at Eastlands.

The Togo forward has also been charged with improper conduct for racing the length of the pitch to celebrate a goal in City's 4-2 victory in front of Arsenal supporters.

But Adebayor is adamant he has nothing to feel guilty about because he had been disrespected by his old team-mates, who he claims refused to shake his hand before the match, and the Arsenal fans who chanted vile abuse at him throughout the highly-charged encounter.

"People talk about us as being football players and the money we earn, but just because we are fortunate it does not mean we need to take abuse," Adebayor told The Sun.

"If you were to abuse a man in the street for over an hour he would react and it would be a worse reaction than a goal celebration!

"There is only so much abuse a man can take until he reaches breaking point.

"I scored and I wanted to show people it is not a good idea to abuse me."

Adebayor's challenge on van Persie drew an angry written response from his former strike partner, who posted a statement on Arsenal's website condemning the City star.

But Adebayor said: "I am sorry Robin got hurt but I can't regret something I did not mean to do. Anybody who knows me knows I would not set out to hurt anybody and I would especially not mean to hurt an old team-mate."

Adebayor was especially hurt that players he spent years with at Arsenal wouldn't have anything to do with him when he approached them before kick-off.

"There were players from Arsenal who refused to shake my hand before the match," he said.

"I don't want to give you their names - that is not my style - but there's more than one of them."