Pierre-Emerick, Arsenal Player Fined $10000 by CAF for Making Degrading Statements Against Their Image
Gabonese striker and captain of the Arsenal Club, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been fined $10000 for making comments that tarnish the image of the African Football Federation on Social Media
The Arsenal star had earlier taken to social media last month to lament on how he and the rest of the Gabon team players were held at Banjul Airport in the Gambia for more than six hours overnight after having their passports taken — before being allowed into the country for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier clash.
He posted images of his team-mates sleeping on the airport floor and claimed they were made to feel like ‘hostages’ over COVID-19 testing before their clash with the Gambia.
Aubameyang also called for the CAF to take responsibility and use the disruption to better themselves.
He wrote: ‘Nice job CAF, it’s as if we were back in the 1990s.’
Then added: ‘It will not demotivate us but people need to know and especially that the @CAF_Online [Confederation of African Football] take these responsibilities. 2020 and we want Africa to grow, that’s not how we’re going to get there!!!’
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) stated Aubameyang’s decision to document the event on social media was ‘offensive and degrading’.
“Mr. Pierre Emerick Emiliano Francois Aubameyang has publicly published offensive and degrading material that undermines the honour and image of the Confederation of African Football,” a statement from Caf read.
“In terms of the Caf Statutes & Regulations, in terms of Articles 10, 11, 43.1, 46, 82 of the Disciplinary Code, the Caf disciplinary board decided to impose a fine of 10,000 USD for breach of the values of sportsmanship and integrity on the Gabonese Football Federation for the regrettable behaviour of the player.”