The Equatorial Guinea FA will have to part with $ 100,000 and also foot medical bills of injured spectators in the Ghana versus Equatorial Guinea semi-final clash after crowd troubles.
This has been revealed in statement by CAF after a sitting on the Confederation’s Disciplinary Panel in Malabo on Friday February 6.
It is believed that close to 40 people were injured after discounted home team fans threw missiles in the opposing fans stands forcing them to take refugee behind the goal post on the track race with just eight minutes to the end of the game with The Black Stars enjoying a comfortable 3-0 lead thanks to strikes by Mubarak Wakaso, Jordan Ayew and Andre Dede Ayew.
What is surprising is the fact that CAF has not imposed any punishment on the fans who will be allowed to catch the third place play off involving their team and DR Congo on Saturday.
Below is CAF’s Full Statement.
Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), 6 February 2015. The Disciplinary Panel of CAF meeting on 6 February, 2015 in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, reviewed the reports of match officials following the incidents that marred the Match No. 30 of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations between Ghana and Equatorial Guinea. The match under review, counting for the semi-finals of the competition, was played in Malabo Thursday, 5 February, 2015.
Pursuant to Articles 82, 83 and 151 of the Disciplinary Code of CAF, respectively related to the principles of conduct, responsibility and safety in the organization of games, the disciplinary panel decided:
- To have the Equatorial Guinean Party cover the cost of treatment of all injured persons during the match.
- To impose on the Equatorial Guinean Federation a fine of US$100,000 (One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) for aggressive behaviour and being repeat offenders.
- To have the team of Equatorial Guinea play their next game behind closed doors/in camera and without spectators.
However, to promote a spirit of Fair-play and brotherhood during the AFCON2015, the Disciplinary Panel decided to suspend the match behind closed doors provided that spectators were not guilty of such an offense in the 3rd/4th place classification match.
In the event of a repeat of identical incidents during the classification match on 7 February 2015, the disciplinary panel of CAF will automatically impose the sanction of playing behind closed doors the Equatorial Guinean team’s next official match
This fine brings the total fines slapped on the hosts to 105,000 $ after they had been fined $ 5000 for nearly similar incidents in the quarter final clash against Tunisia.
