Unruly behaviour from AFCON reporters provokes CAF clampdown

The poor behaviour of journalists on the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) within the Ivory Coast has prompted the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to difficulty a brand new set of tips and tighten up media entry following session with the native police.

Away from the on-pitch drama at AFCON, the actions of journalists have been an sad subplot, with abuse, preventing and near-nudity making headlines from the press field.

“There was someone dancing naked in the media tribune,” a CAF media official mentioned to assembled journalists on the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan on Friday, whereas explaining the brand new tips. “We cannot have that.”

An announcement issued by CAF on Friday, as seen by ESPN, revealed that the continent’s soccer governing physique has taken steps to cut back what they deem as “unprofessional and unbecoming behaviour” after consulting with Ivorian authorities.

“CAF has noted the escalating unbecoming and unprofessional behaviour of some ‘media practitioners’ in working spaces at the Africa Cup of Nations,” the assertion started. “CAF met with the Local Organising Committee and police to discuss the situation and find workable solutions.

“While we perceive that we’re all soccer followers and are obsessed with our nationwide groups, journalists are anticipated to watch skilled requirements.”

CAF has said it will expel and remove the accreditation of any media practitioner involved in “wild celebrations and abuses [of] different media colleagues,” while also announcing a zero-tolerance approach to fighting among journalists.

“Any media practitioner who makes use of vulgar [language] in media areas both in opposition to coaches, gamers or his/her friends can have the accreditation withdrawn,” the statement added, with live streaming in the mixed zone, use of drones, and unauthorised media filming within the stadium also banned as part of the clampdown.

In light of Ghana’s 2-2 draw with Mozambique, accredited journalists shouted abuse at players in the mixed zone before heckling former Ghana head coach Chris Hughton, who had been accosted by a supporter in the team hotel earlier in the competition.

The Ivory Coast players were also barracked by reporters following their 4-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea, while Senegal-Guinea and Morocco-South Africa matches also saw clashes between jostling media packs.

The final straw appears to be the behaviour of an accredited Ivorian reporter during his side’s victory over Senegal, with footage circulating of the journalist’s near-naked dance in the media tribune.

“Between pitched battles, assaults, invectives, it’s a distressing spectacle that sure colleagues have been delivering to the world because the begin of AFCON,” the International Sports Press Association said in a statement.

“The media workspaces [gallery, mixed zone, conference room] have been remodeled right into a boxing ring, and even merely remodeled right into a dancefloor or efficiency zone hosted by media badge holders.”

Media entry to Nigeria’s quarterfinal in opposition to Angola in Abidjan on Friday was regulated to a level not earlier than seen beforehand on the event. A most of 250 journalists had been admitted to the media tribune, with photographers’ entry additionally restricted.