FIFA bans Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o for six months for misconduct | Football News

Cameroon’s football chief faces disciplinary action for his “offensive behavior” at a U20 Women’s World Cup match.

Cameroon Football Association (Fecafoot) boss Samuel Eto’o has been banned from attending national team matches for six months for violating FIFA’s disciplinary rules, the football association said.

The former Barcelona striker has been president of Fecafoot since 2021 and is now banned from all men’s and women’s games of different age groups.

“The sanction was imposed in connection with the round of 16 match of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup between Brazil and Cameroon, played in Bogota, Colombia on September 11, 2024,” FIFA said in a statement on Monday.

Details of the incidents were not disclosed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. The statement said Eto’o was found guilty of “offensive conduct and breaches of the principles of fair play” and “misconduct” involving officials.

The charge relates to Cameroon’s round of 16 match against Brazil, which the South Americans won 3-1 after extra time.

Eto’o and the Cameroon delegation saw red for a penalty that led to Brazil’s equalizer in the game.

The 43-year-old, who also played for English Premier League club Chelsea, is banned from taking part in Cameroon games – whether men or women and regardless of age group – but the sanction has no impact on his role as Fecafoot President.

In July, Eto’o was fined $200,000 over a trademark deal with an online gambling company, which the Confederation of African Football deemed an ethical breach.

Eto’o has also been at odds with his country’s sports ministry, describing the appointment of Belgian Marc Brys as coach of the men’s team earlier this year as “illegal”.

Eto’o, a four-time African Player of the Year, is the second most capped player in Cameroon’s history after Rigobert Song. The striker also enjoyed a brilliant club career, winning the Champions League four times with three different teams.

In 2022, he was filmed attacking a man outside a stadium after a heated exchange and confrontation during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.