Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) president Samuel Eto’o, has received a six-month ban from attending any international matches involving Cameroon, as determined by a FIFA disciplinary panel.
The former Barcelona and Chelsea striker was penalized for violating two articles of FIFA’s disciplinary code.
This ban is related to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup round-of-16 match on September 11, where Cameroon faced Brazil, resulting in a 3-1 defeat for the Central African team after extra time.
According to a FIFA statement, breaches occurred concerning offensive behavior, fair play principles, and misconduct by players and officials during the match held in Bogota, Colombia, which Eto’o attended.
As a result, the 43-year-old is prohibited from attending any football matches involving both men’s and women’s teams from Cameroon, across all categories and age groups.
FIFA stated that the sanction is effective immediately and that Eto’o has been notified of the decision, with the option to appeal.
Cameroon’s men’s team is set to play Kenya in a qualification double-header for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in October.
Earlier on Monday, Eto’o chaired a meeting in Douala to discuss preparations for the upcoming match against the Harambee Stars on October 11.
Fecafoot has been approached for comment.
A chequered time in office
This is the latest penalty imposed on Eto’o, who was fined $200,000 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in July for breaching ethical standards.
A disciplinary panel determined that the four-time African Footballer of the Year had “seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity, and sportsmanship” by signing a contract as an ambassador for the betting company 1XBET.
Eto’o’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the ruling, which followed a CAF investigation that found insufficient evidence to pursue charges related to match-fixing allegations.
While Eto’o had a successful playing career in Europe and with the Cameroon national team, he has sparked controversy since his election as Fecafoot president in 2021.
Last year, a group representing amateur clubs in Cameroon urged the 43-year-old to resign, citing “grave irregularities” within Fecafoot. Additionally, one former international teammate referred to Eto’o as a “dictator” due to his leadership style within the organization.
Earlier this year, Eto’o was involved in a protracted dispute with the Ministry of Sport regarding the appointment of Marc Brys as coach of the Indomitable Lions, although he ultimately accepted the Belgian’s appointment.