Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been fined for social media posts ahead of Gabon’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gambia in November.
The Arsenal captain wrote about sleeping on an airport floor with international team-mates as they were stuck inside and had to spend a night there.
This came after arriving for a qualifying game and were not allowed to leave as officials argued over COVID-19 testing.
Aubameyang posted pictures of players sleeping on the airport floor and wrote: “Nice job CAF, it’s as if we were back in the 1990s.”
He later added: “This will not demotivate us but people need to know and CAF need to take responsibility. [It is] 2020 and we want Africa to grow but this is not how we will get there.
πππ pic.twitter.com/mwezw6si72
β AUBAβ‘οΈ (@Aubameyang7) November 16, 2020
He was fined $10,000 for the social media posts that tarnished the “honour and image” of the Confederation of African Football.
CAFs disciplinary committee said the content was offensive and degrading. African football’s governing body also chose to fine Gambia’s FA $100,000, half of which was suspended for 24 months.
The Gambian federation “did not comply to the loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship values and rules of fair play concerning the reception of the Gabonese delegation”, CAF said in a statement.
Gabon arrived shortly before midnight and were allowed to go their hotel about five hours later. They lost 2-1 to Gambia later in the day.
After the game, Aubameyang posted a picture on Instagram and tagged CAF’s account alongside a middle finger emoji.
“No words needed proud of the Panthers, even if we lost today,” Aubameyang said.
When asked ‘Is Auba undroppable in the Premier League?’, Mikel Arteta said: No one is undroppable. At the end of the day, we have to find the right players to win football matches. But we cannot forget what Auba has done for this club and what he has done in recent months, not years ago. As well, I see how he’s training and how he’s behaving, how much he wants to turn this situation around. When I see that type of hunger, it’s about supporting the player as well as the status he has in the team because of the performances he has provided for this football club.
Arteta was asked ‘Has Auba’s morale dropped and is it important to keep him positive?’: Listen, today and this week, the response that I’ve seen from the players and the reaction I saw from the players after the match, I cannot be any prouder. Because I know how difficult it is for everybody at the moment. After losing a derby you can be completely down and I saw a completely different team, a team that wants to fight, that has a big belief in what they are trying to do and they want to push themselves and push each other harder and harder. Auba was one of the main guys there and today he was walking around the place with an energy that wouldn’t be associated to a team or a player that is suffering at the moment and that is for me the way we have to approach it.
On whether Auba is a vocal captain in the dressing room? – Arteta replied: If necessary, he will do it but I think he transmits his energy, his desire and his commitment to the team in different ways.
Arsenal currently sit 15th in the Premier League table, taking 13 points from 11 games played.
Fans reacted after seeing that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been fined for his social media posts…
Aubameyang has already gone missing in an Arsenal shirt and now he may not play for his country for a while
β Spurs of the moment (@DFTHFC15) December 9, 2020
Absolute bs from CAF
β tony (@Martialsbellend) December 9, 2020
Heβs right CAF is the most incompetent federation
β Mohannad / Ω ΩΩΨ― π (@Mo_hunned) December 9, 2020
Missing the target on & off the pitch
β #MUFC (@posyworldwide) December 9, 2020
He is finished lol
β Red#19 (@Hygrid241) December 9, 2020
People sleep on the streets in the freezing cold.. shut up and take your 200k a week
β LFCFanFly #dontbuythesun (@LFCSIXTIMES123) December 9, 2020
CAF doesn’t care. How many times has South African teams traveled to participate in CAF competitions and not get adequate facilities to use?
β Papa Junior (@RMoganeSekatane) December 9, 2020
Absolute joke
β BP Zone Arsenal Podcast (@bpzonearsenal) December 9, 2020
Almost like the airport and itβs officials didnβt tarnish it lol. Punished for exposing the truth, just the world we live in.
β n (@memerain23) December 9, 2020
LOOOOOOOOOOL they fined him for showing how unorganised and corrupt African football is? He should retire he doesnt need themπππ
β Aaron Adade (@AAdade9) December 9, 2020
This is insane πββοΈπ€
β Bryan Nana (@Shumblex) December 9, 2020
CAF is corrupt
β Blahk_Wolf (@Blahk_Wolf) December 9, 2020

You must be logged in to post a comment Login