Emmanuel Adebayor slammed for Vladimir Putin comments in now-deleted Instagram post

Adebayor attended the RB Awards ceremony in Moscow last week

Emmanuel Adebayor has been criticised for coming out in support of Russian president Vladimir Putin after a celebratory award show last weekend. The former Arsenal and Manchester City forward travelled to Moscow to attend the RB Awards last week, later posting a number of images from the event on Instagram on Monday. The 38-year-old captioned the post by writing: "SEA, it was an absolute delight to be part of the annual RB award that was held in Moscow. Thank you for the courteous hospitality and professionalism that was managed by @kim_ir_sen and @bookierating." Adebayor has also been criticised after he came out in support of Russian president Putin. The former Togo international is quoted by Zorya Londonsk on Twitter saying: "I love Putin as a person. Obviously, he is a person with character. If he says no, then no. If yes, then yes. "What I like most about him is the high level of discipline. When he says something, then he definitely does it." https://twitter.com/zoryalondonsk/status/1545003083054432256?s=21&t=4ABUfkGy1NeNWYDKHznxmA

How did social media react?

One Twitter user said: "What a clown". https://twitter.com/Trumpusha1/status/1545118683919355904 Another added: "What a tool". https://twitter.com/ukrfut24/status/1545010818668003328 A third wrote: "A**hole". https://twitter.com/valeriikuzmin/status/1545122366182891521 His alleged quotes come after Former F1 chief Ecclestone was blasted last month after defending Putin during a bizarre live interview. In an appearance on Good Morning Britain, Ecclestone claimed that he would "take a bullet" for Putin because he is "first class". Related links:

• Vladimir Putin hits back at Boris saying it would be a ‘disgusting sight’ to see western leaders topless
• Bernie Ecclestone says he’d ‘take a bullet for Putin’ in bizarre GMB interview
• Vladimir Putin is gravely ill and will be ‘dead within two years’, spy chief claims