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Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore believes that Emmanuel Adebayor's controversial behaviour during Manchester City's victory over Arsenal last weekend could tarnish the image of English football.
The Togo striker is expected to be charged by the Football Association today after an investigation into an alleged stamp on former team-mate Robin van Persie and his provocative goal celebration in front of the Arsenal supporters.
Scudamore said: "We had a weekend of fantastic football action, including at Eastlands. It was a fantastic game of football.
"Why, when you run the Premier League, would you want the headlines on Sunday and Monday being about something else?
"You don't want it, so clearly it doesn't do any good for the brand in one sense.
"Of course you would rather it didn't happen. When these incidents come up, you would rather the talk was about the action and the competitiveness.
"All I would say is that these incidents, where they are on the field and beamed around the world, or the isolated incidents we get off the field of bad behaviour do not do the image of the League or of football any good."
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police have received a complaint alleging Van Persie swore at the crowd after scoring in Saturday's 4-2 defeat at City, but it is understood that further action is unlikely.
Reader views (6)
it might help if some people on here actually went to the macth, the incessant howling by arsenal fans at him and the constant flailing tackles by most arsenal players, is anyone suprised? why not listen to Harry rednapp a measured view of the situation.
people who live in glass houses - most arsenal fans on here, should not throw stones!!
- Fair Minded Arsenal Fan, Birmingham UK, 17/09/2009 22:17
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I am glad the FA have charged Adebayor on two counts.It is a disgrace to hurt your ex colleage.Adebayor should be banned for the whole season and not just a few games.This guy has got pig-headed since he moved to Man.city.He became a star through Arsene Wenger and thats how he pays back.Arsene made the biggest cockup of his life by selling Adebayor to his enemy (a premiership club)instead of a European club; maybe he could not get price he wanted.This could be a lesson to Arsene.
- John Pereira, Wembley UK, 17/09/2009 21:17
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Yet Citeh's racist chanting at the same player last year was fine was it Ian? You claim the Gooners are hypocrites ("if you can't take it then don't give it"), yet Mark Hughes' and every Citeh fans' reaction to this - as you put it, "blaming everyone else" - is precisely that.
Not one of you has acknowledged the player's utterly disgraceful conduct on far more than one occasion during the same match.
Believe me, I'm no Arsenal fan, not by a long way, but to have such a blinkered view when this whole issue has been caused by the appalling conduct of a player wearing your shirt is really rather ridiculous.
- Stu, Beckton, 17/09/2009 21:17
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It was funny though.
- Graeme, Hornchurch, England, 17/09/2009 21:17
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It is bad enough for Adebayor's performance against the players Fabregas, van Persie but when ManCity really file a complaint against van Persie that really beats my imagination. I know they are emerging as a force with the money they have but the lack of class is alarming. Last season Hull did the same against Fabregas and now ManCity have gone one step further, try and drag a non event into the equation to ease the blow they deserve. Disgraceful, to say the least.
- Sorie Kamara 'Kamsoman', LONDON, UK, 17/09/2009 21:17
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I am fed up with Arsenal fans stating Adebayor, City or city fans lack class. I was at the game on Saturday and it was the Arsenal fans that lacked any class.
Racist and abusive songs and then throwing missiles. If you can't take it then don't give it! I think it is about time Arsenal fans stopped crying, blaming everybody else and grew up!
- Ian Taylor, Manchester, England, 17/09/2009 21:17
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