: Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:30 am  

D.D. wrote:

If Adebayor deliberately stamped on Van Persie, then he does deserve the ban he is undoubtedly going to get. It certainly looks as if he changes his foot to go for him but, as Cibaman says, the slow motion looks damning whereas the footage shown at true speed shows that he would have had to have super-human reactions to have done that on purpose.

One thing is for sure, the national witch hunt will guarantee a ban whether they can prove his guilt or not.

What gets me though is the press excusing the deplorable behaviour of the Arsenal fans as if they were somehow forced into it. If merely celebrating a goal in front of a set of fans who had been chanting foul mouthed abusives at him all game is enough to set off a mini-riot then it's a bit of a poor show.

Are we going to see the book thrown at them too for the amount of missiles thrown on to the pitch, the racial abuse and banana throwing (bizarre from a team with the biggest black support in the country), the cut throat gestures, the attacking of stewards, the attempting to storm the pitch and the attacks on City fans in the streets resulting in one being hospitalised with serious head injuries?

Will the same book be thrown at RVP too for his serious allegations on the official website that cannot, at this stage, be proven?

There is no doubt that Ade will get a ban and deservedly so for his stamp on RVP. The goal celebration was wrong and he was rightly booked for it but I don't see the need for anything further to happen. Players celebrate in front of rival fans all the time and although this was slightly different as he ran the length of the pitch to do it I don't think it justifies extra punishment. The behaviour of the Arsenal fans shoudl also be looked at as the reaction was far too over the top.

: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:01 am  

lol @ the city fans trying to defend Adebayor.

: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:08 am  

Eric_Cartman_is_a_saint wrote:

lol @ the city fans trying to defend Adebayor.

It's not a case of trying to defend him. However it is an attempt to put a bit of realistic perspective to it as opposed to the ridiculously over the top reaction from the press and sensationalist supporters of other clubs.

: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:18 am  

D.D. wrote:

It's not a case of trying to defend him. However it is an attempt to put a bit of realistic perspective to it as opposed to the ridiculously over the top reaction from the press and sensationalist supporters of other clubs.

it caused problems in the ground (possibly the arsenal outrage might be oot), and wasn't there some bother outside the ground after? pretty sure they may be linked.

: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:26 am  

Seems simple enough to me.

Adebayor stamped on Van Persie's hand.
He ran the length of the pitch to the Arsenal fans, creating problems in the crowd and the subsequent injury to a steward.

The first incident is subject to opinion, but the second is clear as day.

The FA should have standard punishments for the two offences.
They are given out and we all move on.

: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:34 am  

I think he should get punished for the celebration. But there is the stupid issue of him already being punished for that with the yellow card, so he'll probably get off with that.

I think he shouldn't be punished for the stamp. IMO there's not enough in that incident for him to be done. He was the victim of a bad challenge from behind from RVP and if there was a reaction it was only slight. I don't think it can be proved that he deliberately tried to stamp on his head, so he should be given the benefit of the doubt.

There was much more intent in about 4 "challenges" on Adebayor when he set up SWP who SWP'd that sitter into the stand. RVP set this whole incident off when he lunged in recklessly. Their fans were guilty of a massive over-reaction to Adebayor and of throwing missiles at him. RVP set himself up as judge, jury and executioner after the game. **** off that they can set the agenda when they are just as guilty of misbehaviour as Adebayor.

The FA carrying on their Trial By Media nonsense. Ridiculous. Either investigate all incidents every week or none. Don't let The Sun and The Star decide who gets done and who doesn't.

: Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:04 am  

Shame all this poop had to overshadow a brilliant game.

: Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:06 am  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

Don't let The Sun and The Star decide who gets done and who doesn't.

Exactly! They should only decide who gets thrown out of Big Brother and general elections.

: Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:09 am  

flipper wrote:

it caused problems in the ground (possibly the arsenal outrage might be oot), and wasn't there some bother outside the ground after? pretty sure they may be linked.

I'm sorry but if celebrating a goal in front of people who have been taunting them all game is enough to cause people to riot then who's the main problem here? The person who celebrates the goal or the morons who were taunting him all game, hurling racist abuse and missiles and then fighting.

Under the game's rules, I appreciate Adebayor, like others in the past, could be deemed as incenting a riot but if that's all it takes for some muppets to start kicking off aggro then surely it's the muppets that need investigating more.

These people are happy to dish out what was just about the worse abuse that I have ever heard an individual get from a set of fans, yet can't take it back when a player slides on his knees in front of them.

: Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:36 am  

Ajw71 wrote:

Shame all this poop had to overshadow a brilliant game.

Indeed. Must admit I was slightly surprised whilst watching the game and also listening to Radio 5 Live's commentary to hear Danny Mills describe the game as "dire" a statement his fellow commentator agreed with. Admittedly the real drama hadnt started at that point but it was still quite engrossing stuff.