The semi-final contest in Malabo on Thursday (February 5) was halted for over half an hour after Equatorial Guinea's fans pelted Ghana players and supporters with missiles, riot police used tear gas and a helicopter hovered over the stadium.

Equatorial Guinea were subsequently fined £65,000 ($100,000/€87,500) for the incident, where 36 fans were injured, and DR Congo defender Gabriel Zakuani had called for the third-placed play-off - which his side won on penalties this evening - to be cancelled in a bit to avoid more trouble.

"Good news is no news, bad news is news," Blatter, speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF), said.

"We only talk about the bad.

"It's normal, we criticise what's good, never what's bad.

"The unhappy role of the media is to assume and to forecast.

"I don't see the negative side of African football that the media presents.

"The media can play a role, must play a role, but they must play a role where the notions of respect and fair play are the basics.

"Today the world opens the newspapers, watches television, and sees only murders and killing."

CAF President Issa Hayatou joined FIFA chief Sepp Blatter in claiming media coverage of  crowd trouble in Malabo during the African Cup of Nations semi-final between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana has been exaggerated ©Getty Images



CAF President Issa Hayatou echoed Blatter's comments, claiming that the media are only there to "perpetuate colonisation".

"The press always dramatise, particularly the Western press.

"The Western media are simply here to perpetuate colonisation.

"When something bad happens in Europe, they say it's an error.

"When something happens in Africa, they begin talking about corruption."

The scenes in Malabo during the match, which Ghana won 3-0, have tainted an Africa Cup of Nations that has largely been trouble free.

Equatorial Guinea was a late replacement host nation after Morocco pulled out of staging the competition due to fears over Ebola, and they have widely been praised for the organisation of the tournament.

Cedric Mongongu (right) scored the winning penalty as DR Congo beat Equatorial Guinea in the third-place play-off, their best African Cup of Nations performance for 41 years
©Getty Images



On the pitch, Equatorial Guinea enjoyed success few would have thought possible and they eventually finished fourth after a defeat to DR Congo in the third-placed play-off in the same stadium in Malabo, although there was no sign of trouble this time around.

A small crowd turned out to watch a fairly dour 0-0 draw and defender Cedric Mongongu struck the winning penalty to give DR Congo their first top-three finish at an Africa Cup of Nations in 41 years.

The tournament is due to finish tomorrow, with the final between Ghana and Ivory Coast.

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