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Samuel Eto’o, the iconic Cameroonian striker and current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), was Monday, September 30 dealt a significant blow in his administrative career. A FIFA disciplinary panel handed Eto’o a six-month ban from attending all international matches involving Cameroon, following a breach of FIFA’s disciplinary code. The ban marks another chapter in a series of controversies that have emerged since Eto’o took office as Fecafoot president in 2021.
The former Barcelona and Chelsea star faced this latest sanction due to incidents during the Under-20 Women’s World Cup last-16 clash between Cameroon and Brazil, held on September 11 in Bogota, Colombia. The match ended in a 3-1 victory for Brazil after extra time, and FIFA’s investigation found that Eto’o had violated articles relating to offensive behavior and the principles of fair play, involving misconduct from both players and officials.
As a result of the sanction, the 43-year-old is barred from attending any matches involving Cameroon’s national teams, both men’s and women’s, across all age groups. The punishment came into effect immediately, a fact which is likely to impact Cameroon’s upcoming crucial fixtures. With the men’s national team set to face Kenya in a double-header in October for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 qualifiers, Eto’o’s absence could be felt as the team prepares for the decisive encounter. Notably, the news emerged just after Eto’o chaired a meeting in Douala to strategize for the qualifiers.
Eto’o’s tenure as Fecafoot president, though initially filled with optimism, has been marred by persistent controversies and disciplinary issues. Just a few months prior, in July, he was fined $200,000 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for breaching ethical guidelines. Eto’o was found guilty of compromising CAF’s principles of integrity and sportsmanship by signing a contract as an ambassador for the betting company 1XBET.
These disciplinary actions against Eto’o have only fueled the criticisms he has faced since taking over Fecafoot. His leadership style has not sat well with many, including a group representing amateur clubs in Cameroon, which last year called for his resignation citing “grave irregularities” in how the federation was being run. Further criticism came from a former national teammate who publicly referred to Eto’o as a “dictator,” pointing to his autocratic approach in managing the federation.
Earlier this year, Eto’o also found himself embroiled in a protracted dispute with Cameroon’s Ministry of Sport regarding the appointment of Marc Brys as head coach of the national men’s team, the Indomitable Lions. The Ministry’s selection of Brys, a Belgian coach, initially met with resistance from Eto’o, who eventually conceded and accepted the appointment. This public back-and-forth highlighted the internal conflicts plaguing Cameroonian football administration and the challenges in establishing cohesive leadership.
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