FIFA has imposed a six-month ban on Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroon football federation, due to his conduct during a Women’s Under-20 World Cup match.
The decision, announced on Monday, stems from Eto’o’s actions during Cameroon’s last-16 clash against Brazil, which ended in a heartbreaking 3-1 defeat for the women’s team after extra time.
Eto’o, a former Barcelona star and football legend, was found guilty of violating FIFA’s regulations concerning “offensive behaviour, violation of the principles of fair play, and misconduct of players and officials.”
The controversial moment that triggered the disciplinary action occurred when Eto’o and the Cameroonian delegation expressed their outrage over a penalty awarded to Brazil, which led to the South American team’s equalizer in the match held in Bogota, Colombia, on September 11.
As a result of the ban, Eto’o is prohibited from attending any matches involving Cameroon, across all categories—men’s, women’s, and youth. However, it is important to note that the sanction does not affect his position as president of the Cameroon football federation, known as Fecafoot.
This is not the first time Eto’o has faced disciplinary action. In July, he was fined $200,000 for an ethics violation related to a brand deal with an online gambling firm, ruled against by the Confederation of African Football.
Eto’o, who took office as Fecafoot president in 2021, has also been at odds with his country’s sports ministry, previously labeling their appointment of Belgian Marc Brys as the men’s team coach earlier this year as “illegal.”
