The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has levied a fine of $5,000 on champions Ivory Coast following the misconduct of its players during the AFCON quarterfinal clash against Mali.
The tense match, which unfolded on 3 February at the Stade de la Paix, saw Ivory Coast emerge victorious with a 2-1 scoreline, but it was marred by controversial incidents.
Among the incidents, three Ivory Coast players found themselves receiving red cards during the heated encounter. Odilon Kossounou, a key figure in the Ivorian squad, was sent off after accumulating two yellow cards in quick succession just before halftime. Additionally, Oumar Diakite, the match-winner for Ivory Coast, was also dismissed for his exuberant celebration, which involved removing his shirt—a breach of the rules, compounded by a prior booking.
The disciplinary measures imposed by the CAF disciplinary board signal the seriousness with which such conduct is viewed in international football. In addition to the fine, the FIF will likely face pressure to ensure better discipline among its players in future competitions.
Notably, Ivory Coast was not the sole recipient of CAF's disciplinary actions. The Fédération Malienne de Football (FMF) also faced consequences for the misconduct of their players during the same match. Mali's team exhibited unsportsmanlike behavior towards the match officials, prompting a fine of $10,000. The aftermath of the match saw Mali players surrounding referee Mohamed Adel, necessitating his protection from their anger.
Furthermore, Mali defender Hamari Traore has been handed a significant suspension by the CAF disciplinary board. Traore's actions towards the match official warranted a four-match ban, with two matches suspended for a year, underscoring the severity of his actions.