Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Alex Milne

Emmanuel Adebayor defends himself after refusal to donate during coronavirus crisis

Emmanuel Adebayor has insisted he still does not see the need for him to donate any money amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis despite a vast amount of criticism coming his way for his inactivity.

The ex-Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham forward currently plays for Paraguayan side Olimpia, but he is self-isolating in his native Togo.

And he has resisted calls for him to help out with the crisis by donating some of his millions, and repeated his stance that he does not get involved with charities during a Facebook Live video.

"I always do things according to the wishes of my heart and not according to the words of others," Adebayor said.

Emmanuel Adebayor in action for Olimpia (AFP via Getty Images)

"For those who say that I do not donate, let me be very clear, I really do not donate. This is very simple.

"I do what I want to do, eat the food I want, and this is the most important. Then, there will be those who criticise me for not having established a charity in Togo."

The likes of Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba have been active in helping out in their respective countries, with Eto'o donating relief packages in Cameroon and Drogba helping out with the building of a new hospital in Ivory Coast.

But Adebayor continued: "I'm sorry that people compare me to Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba by asking me why I don't have a foundation or why I don't donate, as if I was the one who brought the coronavirus to Togo...

Adebayor celebrates a goal for Arsenal in 2007 (Daily Mirror)

"I am neither the one nor the other, I am me, Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor. A word of advice for the guys regarding donations, I will not do that. Everything is clear and very simple. Thank you and good day."

Official statistics state there there are currently 86 cases of coronavirus in Togo, with six people having died in the country.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.