ACTUALITE |
09.02.2002
Nkono, Schafer banned for riot police scuffle
BAMAKO
Cameroon coach Winfried Schafer and goalkeeping assistant Thomas Nkono have been banned from the African Nations Cup final following the bust-up with riot police in Thursday`s semi-final, tournament officials told.
Schafer has been given a one-match ban barring him from the dug-out and dressing room in Sunday`s final against Senegal while goalkeeping coach Nkono was given a one-year ban.
The penalties were issued at a closed meeting of the Confederation of African Football`s executive committee earlier Friday, a CAF official late Friday.
Nkono was at the centre of an extraordinary furore approximately 90 minutes before the start of Thursday`s semi-final match between Mali and Cameroon at the March 26 Stadium.
The respected former international had walked a few yards on to the pitch with head coach Winfried Schafer. A riot police officer attempted to usher Nkono from the field, and when the goalkeeping coach resisted a melee ensued.
Eventually around a dozen riot policemen forcibly dragged Nkono from the pitch, knocking him to the floor and at one point leaving him with his tracksuit trousers around his ankles. /p
Nkono, one of Africa`s most famous former footballers, was led away in handcuffs before later being released to take his place on the bench.
His arrest prompted speculation that he had been attempting to leave a black magic charm on the pitch, an accusation Cameroon officials rubbished.
Later Friday African Nations Cup officials defended the actions of police who arrested Nkono, saying the officers were only following tournament rules.
Ibrahim Sorry Makanguile, president of local organising committee COCAN, said Nkono had broken regulations by not displaying his accreditation badge properly and police had no option but to remove him from the field.
"The tournament regulations of the Confederation of African Footballstate clearly that access to the playing field is restricted," Makanguile told a press conference.
"Access is indicated on a wearer`s accreditation badge. Mr Nkono was not displaying his accreditation properly and therefore police were acting in accordance with regulations," he added.
A CAF official said a full report on the incident was being prepared and a formal statement released on Saturday morning
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