Adebayo Akinfenwa explains exactly what happened in heated scenes with the away fans during Wycombe Wanderers’ defeat on Saturday.
The Chairboys striker has condemned the ‘offensive’ chants made by several MK Dons fans on numerous occasions throughout the match.
It began during the warm up, only for it to continue just five minutes into the League One clash, leading to Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth waving his finger to the MK fans, encouraging them to stop but the supporters ignored his pleas.
Not long after the away side took the lead 13 minutes in, thanks to a Scott Twine goal, the inappropriate chanting was heard again.
It’s a dreadful chant and needs to be stamped out across all clubs.
We stand with @daRealAkinfenwa, who spoke to @beewestwood of @SkyFootball after today’s game. pic.twitter.com/u4bVjeSC2q
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) January 29, 2022
What an absolute freak pic.twitter.com/hQ5DVCUoyz
— Roberto (@Robertox4y) January 29, 2022
This time, Akinfenwa got off the subs bench and tried to speak to the opposing fans before referee Rob Lewis halted the game.
Sadly, this played out throughout the contest despite many public announcements on the club’s official tannoy, and the chanting was then drowned out by boos from the Wycombe supporters.
Speaking after the defeat, Akinfenwa said: “It’s been a few weeks since the chant has come about.
“We played Oxford here, heard it.
“I think it started with the gaffer and then my name and then it was left, then Morecambe, and now today [January 29].
“For me, I can take jokes, I can banter, but there are kids here and that’s what it was.
“Where has this trend come from?
“And the reason why I went up there [to the MK fans] was that I was doing it for those who cannot put this on their shoulders.
“If I don’t know you, you can’t affect me but there are going to be some individuals out there that feel some type of way, and what I want to happen now is for this to be nipped in the bud.
“It’s not a trend, it’s not funny and the words and chants they are saying, there is no banter to it.
“A few weeks back we went away to Ipswich and we went back and forth and it was banter.
“I didn’t mind doing that as that was entertainment, but this is not.
“Some people may say that ‘it’s a joke’, but if you know me, you know I can take a joke.
“This is not a joke, and whatever the authorities need to do, just shut it down and we keep on moving.”
The striker also stated to the media that MK Dons manager Liam Manning, along with the club’s chairman, Pete Winkleman apologised on the behalf of the club, with a statement from them released criticising the chants.
Akinfenwa continued: “The chairman and manager came up to me and said sorry, and said that’s not what they stand for.
“I said ‘thank you’ as it was big of them to say that.
“As long as this gets sorted out, I can handle this on my shoulders but enough is enough and as long as this doesn’t happen again, I’m good.”
Akinfenwa has already announced that he will be retiring from professional football at the end of the season.
Too Kind 💙💙 we are as one 👊🏿😉💙 https://t.co/i6XmPHYDwA
— daRealAAkinfenwa (@daRealAkinfenwa) January 29, 2022
Speaking after the match, Ainsworth said: “I think he went over to warm up because he was a substitute.
“He went that end as that is where the substitutes warm-up and once you warm up, you get closer to the fans.
“If he has engaged in anything, believe me, Akinfenwa would not have instigated it.
“What I want to talk about is him spending an hour after the game signing every autograph and taking every picture with the fans who love and adore him.
“For me, he is one in a million and I am lucky manager to have him.”
Gareth Ainsworth discusses on and off-field matters after today’s 1-0 loss at Adams Park.#WYCvMKD pic.twitter.com/G4FsT3HulX
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) January 29, 2022
Ainsworth continued: “My view is that I am very disappointed with the chant that has started in recent weeks about Adebayo Akinfenwa who is an incredible individual.
“There is no place for it in football and for me, and I am glad that the ref stopped the game which makes people aware of this.
“We do not want this in football.
“We are not perfect but, there’s a line and a few fans dropped below it today [January 29].
“There are children in the stadium, and I just want to keep it good and respectful.
“There is banter, there is rivalry amongst fans but sometimes it can go a bit too far and that happened today.”
Twitter users reacted as Akinfenwa explains what happened in the heated scenes with away fans…
@blathers67:
It wasn’t funny 40 years ago.
It wasn’t funny 30 years ago.
It wasn’t funny 20 years ago.
It wasn’t funny 10 years ago.
It wasn’t funny then and it isn’t funny now.
Never mind slogans things won’t change until some people change.
It is that simple
@DannyEskdale: Such a dignified response but at some point this has to stop. Over the last few years a really ugly side of this game has come, “fans” are no longer fans but enemies who want to attack. Football is heading backwards
@trevtall: @daRealAkinfenwa Is a credit to the club and to modern values. That is how to respond to a chant like that: Holding the boundary with grace and intelligence.
@DarleysNo6: Well said Bayo, these chants are not warranted in English or any football, anyone who sees you during & after a game knows how much you interact with the fans & how much you give back to them be they home or opposing fans, signing autographs & having selfies. Keep going good sir
@perryman775: Vile nonsense from the @MKDonsFC “fans” and @daRealAkinfenwa responds with a calm, measured, take on events. Hats off to the man, utter respect.
@red_devil1999: I’m with @JeffStelling put the idiots in a confined space with this guy. Me thinks they would pipe down then.
@1danielcarroll: As a MK season ticket holder I can’t disagree with the man. Use to see Bayo about town a lot when he was at Northampton and was always a polite bloke and we’d rib each other but he was always happy to have a photo and a chat about boxing. Fans went too far today. #MKDons
@sarah_WBAx: This song is disgusting, some of our fans have sang it about Tyrone Mings and its pathetic – I’ll happily sing good songs non stop for 90 minutes but this is NOT simply banter, this is just absolutely vile and so disrespectful, makes me sick
@skibumg: It’s a shocking song. Billy Sharp gets this every week! It’s a matter of time until he jumps into the stand to confront the idiots!!
@timw88: We’re all behind you Beast. Their ‘fans’ are a absolute disgrace and are not renowned for being ‘good people’. Their choice of club is already a bit of a giveaway!
@WattyTix: You can see so much emotion in his manner and voice. Really hope that people see this as anyone who does can surely not ring them self to continue that chant. Even if you tell yourself it’s a joke, knowing how it’s impacting the person change that.
@Bradleylloyd90: How anyone can try gun this man is beyond me. So likeable and what people should like to see from a footballer. Legend of the sport.
@howardjacobson: Should have kicked the whole lot of them out
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