City await Adebayor verdict

Emmanuel Adebayor today faces a Football Association hearing to answer a charge of improper conduct, with his Manchester City boss Mark Hughes hoping the striker will escape a ban and be available to face Aston Villa on Monday.

The Togo star faces the charge in relation to his controversial goal celebration against his old club Arsenal at Eastlands last month, which received widespread condemnation, including from Greater Manchester Police. His case will be heard by a disciplinary panel at an undisclosed time and location.

City will use the evidence of Gary Neville’s goal celebration against them the following week – which did not even bring a charge against the Manchester United defender – as evidence to back up Adebayor’s claim he did nothing wrong.

A suspension is possible though, even if Hughes does not believe it is warranted.

“We hope Manu won’t get any more matches,” he said. “We don’t think he should.”