Adebayor ban leaves City facing striker crisis
The Togo international admitted a charge of violent conduct brought against him after he stamped on the head of his former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie in City’s 4-2 win over the Gunners last weekend.
Adebayor is ruled out of City’s match at Old Trafford and he will miss home games against Fulham in the Carling Cup and West Ham in the Premier League.
The suspension leaves manager Mark Hughes likely to be without four strikers against Manchester United, as Roque Santa Cruz, Robinho and Carlos Tevez are all struggling with injuries. Hughes may have to rely on Craig Bellamy and Benjani Mwaruwari up front.
Adebayor could face an even lengthier ban if he is found guilty of a separate charge of improper conduct, brought after the former Arsenal player ran the length of the pitch to taunt Gunners fans with a goal celebration.
The FA said in a statement: “Taking into consideration Mr Adebayor’s acceptance of the charge of violent conduct the regulatory commission have ordered that he serve a three-match suspension from all football, commencing Thursday, 17th September.
“A separate charge of improper conduct will be considered at a later date.”
City may contest the improper conduct charge and have until September 30 to respond to that allegation.
Meanwhile City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak has rejected claims that the club’s lavish spending is endangering football and claimed it is instead the only way to renew competition at the highest levels.
City have come in for heavy criticism, not least from UEFA president Michel Platini, over the distorting effects their new-found resources have had on the transfer market, with the European governing body plotting rule changes requiring clubs to become self-sufficient in the near future.
But Khaldoon defended City’s spending of more than £200 million (€223m) on 11 players since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family, bought the club a year ago. “I could accept the argument if we were artificially building up the club through debt,” Khaldoon said in an interview with the Guardian.
“That produces a destructive end result; we have seen that happen. But in our case, the club will be in the healthiest position because there is no debt. We have funded it through equity (permanent investment), including the signing of the players.
“I believe what we are doing is a fair way to inject competition into football, without debt.”
UEFA have responded to the vast outlay of transfer fees by City and Real Madrid this summer by announcing “financial fair-play measures” which will require clubs to fund all activities through television income, ticket sales and commercial activities by 2012 if they wish to take part in European competitions.
But Khaldoon believes that would condemn such competitions to the monotony of the same clubs taking part every season.
“The argument that this is unhealthy suggests that the big clubs, which make the most money, must remain the big clubs, that the status quo must remain,” Khaldoon said.
“Is Mr Platini saying that only Real Madrid and Barcelona have the right to be competitive in La Liga?
“I appreciate the argument about having so much money.
“The way I answer it is: Yes, this is a club, but it is a business too, and in business, you are there to compete. And we are striving to build the club the right way, with respect for its heritage, and the fans.”
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