Adebayor putting together a DVD package of controversial
goal celebrations by his ex-team-mates ahead of his
hearing.
The City striker was banned for three matches for raking
Dutchman Van Persie's face with his studs during last week's
explosive clash with Arsenal. But the roots of their confrontation
stretch back to the final day of last season when Adebayor scooped
up boots and kit from the Arsenal dressing room.
The former Gunners striker walked into the home changing room at
the Emirates with a bin liner and filled it with the boots of first
team players. Van Persie, who had scored twice in a 4-1 win against
Stoke and intended to give his boots to friends as a momento, was
livid.
He was stunned when a kitman told him that Adebayor had taken
all the players' boots before leaving the Emirates for the last
time. Arsenal confirmed last night that Adebayor, who missed the
game through injury, had taken the boots of several players.
A club official said: "Adebayor took all the boots from the
dressing room without permission. "He swept the dressing room."
Van Persie, along with skipper Cesc Fabregas and other Arsenal
stars were told about the amazing incident by the kit men. By then
Adebayor had already left the stadium with the boots and other
items of kit that he had picked up off the dressing room floor.
Arsenal's backroom staff witnessed the extraordinary scenes, but
were powerless to act. And an Arsenal source said: "Normally at the
end of the season players give their boots away to friends, family
or a charity, but they couldn't because Ade had taken the lot.
"We never saw him - or the boots - again. "Robin was going mad.
They couldn't believe a team-mate earning £80,000 a week would do
that."
When quizzed about the incident, Adebayor's agent Stephane
Courbis claimed last night: "At the end of the season it is usual
for players to take the materials they will not be using any
more.
"A lot of African players take kit back to their country because
the facilities and conditions in Africa are not the same as they
are in England."
Meanwhile Adebayor has not finished with Van Persie yet. The
Togo international plans to put his ex-team-mate in the dock when
his improper conduct charge for provocative goal celebrations in
front of the Arsenal fans at Eastland's, is heard by the FA.
The City striker is putting together a DVD package of
controversial goal celebrations ahead of his hearing. Van Persie
ran to the crowd after equalising for Arsenal in their 4-2 defeat
at City last weekend, and was alleged to have mouthed obscenities
at City supporters.
The Dutch striker has not been charged by the FA and also
escaped punishment following his scathing statement about his
former strike partner. Adebayor will point out that he did not
leave the field of play when he ran nearly 90 yards to celebrate in
front of Arsenal fans after scoring City's third.
The City striker has been banned for three games - including
today's Manchester derby at Old Trafford - following the raking
incident with van Persie. And as they club attempt to ensure their
star striker won't face further sanction, they have trawled through
the archives for evidence and discovered a similar incident
involving Thierry Henry and Tottenham supporters.
Eagle-eyed City chiefs have footage of the former Arsenal
striker scoring at Highbury in a North London derby seven years
ago, back in November 2002. Henry then ignored his team-mates'
attempts to stop him, running 90 yards up the touchline before
sliding to his knees in front of Spurs supporters in the Clock
End.
Henry escaped an FA rap, despite calls from Spurs fans for
immediate action, and Adebayor will argue that his own celebration
was similar. The former Arsenal captain has also joined the debate
over Adebayor's behaviour and slammed his ex-team-mate's criticism
of the Gunners and boss Arsene Wenger.
Henry said: "You have to remember - no matter where you end up
in life - the people who helped make you along the way and gave you
the chance. "I won the treble with Barcelona last year, but I know
if it wasn't for Arsene and Arsenal I would not be the player I am
today.
"I think the same has to be true of Adebayor. He might be one of
the world's top strikers today but he wasn't before Arsene got hold
of him and gave him that chance.
"When he came from Monaco he wasn't even getting games back in
France and then, within two seasons, he was a player who was wanted
by a lot of top clubs in Europe.
"Arsene puts a lot of investment in you when he sees talent and
I don't think it would hurt for Adebayor to show him, the club and
the fans a little more respect.
"The fans at Arsenal were great, they were and always will be my
family. "I never saw them behave badly, so to react like they did
at the weekend shows just how angry and upset they were.
"They will you show you love and respect, but like any
relationship they will ask for that love and respect back. "No
matter what Adebayor's emotions were he could have earned himself a
lot of respect by not celebrating the goal.
"That would have shown real class, and that to be honest is what
most players choose to do when they score against their old clubs,
and I don't really understand why he didn't do that."