2015 AFCON: Media 'Perpetuating Colonization' At Nations Cup - Hayatou

CAF president Issa Hayatou rounded on the reporting of Thursday's game when home fans turned on Ghanaian supporters as Ghana won 3-0 ©Issouf Sanogo (AFP)

African football boss Issa Hayatou has attacked international media coverage of Equatorial Guinea's violence-marred Africa Cup of Nations semi-final, claiming it "perpetuated colonization". The Confederation of African Football (CAF) president rounded on the reporting of Thursday's game when home fans turned on Ghanaian supporters as Ghana won 3-0.

CAF responded by fining Equatorial Guinea US$100,000, holding back from imposing a crowd ban on Saturday's third-place play-off between the Africa Cup of Nations hosts and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hayatou told a press conference in Malabo before the game: "The press always dramatize, particularly the western press.

"When something bad happens in Europe, they say it's an error. When something happens in Africa, they begin talking about corruption."

He compared the reporting of Thursday's violence with the coverage given to a Euro 2012 qualifier between Serbia and Italy stopped due to crowd trouble.

"What happened in that match between Serbia and Italy?

"It's the same as what happened here, but when it's Africa it's different.

"It's irrelevant that it's a semi-final. It's a football match. The western media are simply here to perpetuate colonization."

Speaking at the same press conference, FIFA boss Sepp Blatter said the success of the competition - some over-enthusiastic fans aside - has justified its last-minute move to Equatorial Guinea.

The country stepped in to host the event less than two months before kick-off after Morocco pulled out over fears of the spread of the Ebola epidemic.

"The competition's progress, the results, the enthusiasm of the population - sometimes a little too much - have shown the wisdom of this decision." He continued: "Football has experienced in its time here everything that is beautiful about the game, and everything that may not always be beautiful about football.

"But what do you want? Football is made up of players, of technical staff, and also of the management of events on the pitch, referees, and of the public. And so perfection cannot exist, but congratulations for this tournament."