Adebayor blames Arsenal fans for infamous goal celebration while at Man City
Togo football legend Emmanuel Adebayor has blamed Arsenal fans' insults heaped on his parents for his infamous celebration when he scored against his former club while playing for Man City in 2009.
It came following the controversial decision earlier that year to switch north London for Manchester, upsetting fans in the process. He returned the favour in the game between the two teams just four games into that season when he scored in front of the home fans at the Etihad Stadium.
Rather than celebrating there, Adebayor ran the length of the pitch and went for a knee slide in front of the away fans at the match. That prompted an angry reaction on the day, where several items were thrown at the star in an image that will live in the memory of many.
Such was the controversy of the moment, that the FA was prompted into action, giving a two-match suspended ban for an "unacceptable celebration" that could prompt a reaction. Many years on, those images from that day in 2009 will still regularly circulate as a memory.
Some fans also took it upon themselves to sing abusive chants about the striker, but there are hopes that given how long ago it was, those days have
passed. Fourteen years later the forward has retired from professional football, now enjoying the reflection of his career that has come since.
Adebayor has now called for fans to "forget" what had happened in 2009 when he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate scoring for Manchester City in front of the away section. The celebration brought about abuse for the forward, with insults targeted towards his family.
Speaking to Sky Sports about the celebration in particular, Adebayor said: "I think the fans can forget what happened in 2009 when I ran the length of the pitch. Today I will make it clear, I don't think any human being would accept it if people were singing about and insulting your family, especially your mother and father. I would do anything for my mother and father."
