Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), will be forced to watch his national teams on television. On September 30, the FIFA disciplinary committee banned him from attending matches. “Cameroon representative teams, for men’s and women’s matches, in all age categories, for a period of six months”that is, until March 31, 2025.
The Cameroonian leader will have to follow on television the end of the qualification for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025, where Cameroon will have to face Kenya twice in October, and then Zimbabwe and Namibia in November. He will also not be able to be present in the two March qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup against Libya and Eswatini.
And in the event that the team qualifies for the final phase of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), where only players who play for a club in their country can participate, scheduled for February in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, it will not be able to enter. any stadium.
FIFA criticizes the former captain of the Indomitable Lions for his behavior during the U-20 Women’s World Cup in September in Colombia, and more particularly on the occasion of the 16my Lost final against Brazil in Bogotá (1-3 in extra time).
Second sanction of the year
Samuel Eto’o is accused in particular of having violated article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code, by adopting “offensive behavior that violates the principles of fair play”, The coach challenged the refereeing with some vehemence from the stands. FIFA also took into account the behavior “incorrect” Cameroonian players and delegation leaders, in particular during a penalty awarded to the Brazilians.
This sanction is the second of the year for the president of Fecafoot, since in July he was fined 180,000 euros by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The organization considered that Samuel Eto’o had violated the principles of ethics and integrity that he defends after signing an ambassador contract with the online betting company 1xBet.
In Cameroon, the suspension received by the president of Fecafoot is commented on in various ways. “Some consider it logical and believe that Eto’o should even have been sanctioned before, for example when he attacked an Algerian blogger during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. And there are those who think that he is an untouchable icon and accuse FIFA of going after he”. comments journalist Jean-Bruno Tagne.
Fecafoot has so far not officially reacted to the sanction imposed by FIFA. When requested, its communications department did not respond to world africa. Former Cameroonian international Bernard Tchoutang, for his part, considers that this suspension is “disproportionate”. “A simple call to order would have been enough. This sanction from FIFA, an organization that is not exempt from all reproach, is not insignificant and means that we can no longer say anything.” duck.
Several witnesses claim that, during the lost match against Brazil, Samuel Eto’o even dissuaded the Cameroonian players and officials from protesting to the Italian referee. “I don’t know if he will appeal. I think it will be difficult for Samuel Eto’o, who is a football lover, not to attend the Cameroonian national team matches for six months. But that won’t stop him from going ahead and working.”notes Bernard Tchoutang. The day after this sanction, the president of Fecafoot and his lawyers did not indicate whether or not they intended to appeal.
