Soccer: Fabregas rips into banned Adebayor

LONDON — Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has hit out at former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor's violent conduct which led to a three-match ban for the Manchester City striker on Thursday.

Adebayor was handed the ban by the Football Association for stamping on the face of Arsenal's Robin van Persie during a stormy Premier League match which City won 4-2 last week.

Fabregas said he, too, fell victim to Adebayor and along with teammate Emmanuel Eboue said he was "very disappointed" in the striker's attitude.

"I think this is a red card here," said Fabregas, reportedly gesturing to his leg and claiming the injury was suffered in an Adebayor challenge.

"I was lucky my foot was in the air when it happened."

Fabregas added: "All I tried to do when he (Adebayor) was at Arsenal was to create opportunities for him to score - so I think I didn't do too bad for him."

"I have no idea why he acted like this," said Eboue.

"We always respected him.

"He didn't do well because you have a lot of young people who watch the game and they see that, and it's no good for football.

"But I am very, very happy because the FA have given him a three-game ban (for the Van Persie stamp).

"What he did was no good for football. I am very disappointed about it, very disappointed."

Adebayor could face a further suspension as a result of a charge of improper conduct which was made after he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate his goal in the match in front of Arsenal's supporters.

That charge will be considered at a later date with City having been given until September 30 to respond to the charge.

Adebayor's ban could hardly have come at a worse time for City boss Mark Hughes with Carlos Tevez doubtful for the trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United his weekend and both Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz unavailable.

Adebayor has made a superb start to his City career, scoring in each of the club's league games since his 25-million-pound move from Arsenal.

After Saturday's match, he publicly apologised for his conduct and claimed he had been overcome by emotion after receiving sustained abuse from the Arsenal fans, many of whom had turned against the striker in his final year at the Emirates.