He moved backwards when his natural momentum would have taken him forward. I find that deeply disrespectful.

'The contact was only centimetres from my eye. I have not received an apology from him, there were no words exchanged afterwards. He had his own agenda today and that is bad for football. It's bad for the game we all love.'

Adebayor claimed he did apologise to Van Persie.

'I was trying to kick the ball,' Adebayor said. 'I see him tackling and I don't have time to take my feet back because I'm trying to kick the ball.

'My feet touch his head. I feel sorry for him and even straight away, and at the end of the game, I said sorry.'