Redknapp: Blame Arsenal fans not Ade

Redknapp: Blame Arsenal fans not Ade

Harry Redknapp believes Arsenal fans are responsible for the crowd trouble during Gunners' Manchester City clash.

The match which ended 4-2 in City's favour had the fans erupted in fury after City striker Emmanuel Adebayor ran the full length of the pitch to celebrate his goal in front of the Arsenal fans.

The Togo international who was already in trouble over a stamp on Arsenal Robin van Persie for which he is likely to face a three match ban, could also see himself face further improper conduct charges.

Tottenham Hotspur coach Harry Redknapp, however, asserts that Arsenal fans had provoked Adebayor into his overzealous goal celebration.

Speaking to The Daily Mirror, Redknapp said: "I've got no time for people kicking anybody or being violent on the football pitch and he was wrong to run the length of the field.
"But it's very difficult when you're getting abuse throughout the game like he was.

"It's not celebrating a goal that cause riots, it's idiots who want to start riots.
"If I had been standing there and we had been giving him grief all game and he did that, I would probably say: 'Fair play.'

"Adebayor went over the top but, at the same time, he was getting a lot of abuse from the fans for the whole afternoon.

"What did he do really? Run back and go like that, saying he scored.
"I'm not saying it's right but if you can't go near the away fans when you score because you'll cause a riot, then something is wrong.

"What nutters want to cause riots? Why do people need to shout abuse and cause riots? Why can't they just watch a game of football?

"I don't understand it. There's no need for it and there must be something wrong with you if you want to do that," Redknapp said.

Tottenham will visit the Emirates Stadium for their derby clash on 31 October, and will meet the full ensemble cast of the ‘abusive fans'.