Unruly behaviour from AFCON reporters provokes CAF clampdown،
Poor behavior by journalists during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast has prompted the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to issue a new set of guidelines and tighten media access after consultation with the local police.
Beyond the on-field drama at the AFCON, the journalists' actions were an unfortunate subplot, with abuse, fights and near-nudity making headlines from the press box.
“There was someone dancing naked in the media box,” a CAF media official told journalists gathered at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan on Friday, while explaining the new guidelines. “We can’t have that.”
A statement released by CAF on Friday, seen by ESPN, revealed that football's governing body on the continent has taken steps to curb what it considers “unprofessional and inappropriate behavior” after consulting with Ivorian authorities .
“CAF has noted the intensification of inappropriate and unprofessional behavior by certain 'media professionals' in the work spaces of the African Cup of Nations,” the press release begins. “CAF met with the local organizing committee and the police to discuss the situation and find viable solutions.
“While we understand that we are all football fans and are passionate about our national teams, journalists are expected to adhere to professional standards.”
CAF said it would expel and withdraw accreditation from any media worker involved in “wild celebrations and abuse”. [of] other media colleagues,” while announcing a zero-tolerance approach to fighting between journalists.
“Any media professional who uses vulgar language [language] in media zones against coaches, players or their peers will have their accreditation revoked,” the statement added, with live streaming in the mixed zone, use of drones and unauthorized media filming in the stadium also prohibited as part of the repression.
Following Ghana's 2-2 draw with Mozambique, accredited journalists swore 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.
Ivorian players were also barricaded by journalists after their 4-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea, while the Senegal-Guinea and Morocco-South Africa matches were also marked by clashes between jostled media.
The final straw appears to have been the behavior of an accredited Ivorian journalist during his team's victory against Senegal, with images circulating of the journalist dancing almost naked in the media box.
“Between pitched battles, attacks, invectives, it is a distressing spectacle that certain colleagues have offered the world since the start of the CAN,” declared the International Sports Press Association in a press release.
“Media workspaces [gallery, mixed zone, conference room] have been transformed into a boxing ring, or even simply transformed into a dance floor or a performance zone hosted by media badge holders.”
Media access to Nigeria's quarter-final against Angola on Friday in Abidjan was regulated to a degree never before seen at the tournament. A maximum of 250 journalists were admitted to the media gallery, with access for photographers also limited.
