A section of passionate African football fans has expressed displeasure with UK-based media outlet Daily Mail over what they perceive as ‘negative’ reporting on the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The contentious article, headlined “AFCON referee misses ‘STONEWALL’ penalty before VAR steps in,” has sparked criticism from African enthusiasts who feel the report undermines the commendable efforts of the tournament’s referees.
The Daily Mail story centered around an incident during the intense clash between defending champions Senegal and hosts Ivory Coast in the round of 16. The thrilling encounter ended in a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, with Ivory Coast emerging victorious in a dramatic penalty shootout.
However, the Daily Mail’s focus on a single refereeing decision, where VAR was employed, has drawn ire from African fans who argue that it overshadowed the overall phenomenal performance of the referees throughout the tournament.
https://twitter.com/MailSport/status/1752109470698623241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1752250341410619553%7Ctwgr%5Ec2e16448c41dc249ab720def45388c0023bf1b0e%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2F3news.com%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2Fuk-based-media-face-backlash-over-negative-afcon-report%2F
Source: 3news