FIFA bans Samuel Eto’o from attending Cameroon matches for next six months

Samuel Eto’o has been banned from attending Cameroon national team matches for the next six months for breaching FIFA’s disciplinary code.

Eto’o, who has been president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) since 2021, has been barred from men’s and women’s games across all age groups.

Football’s governing body said Eto’o had been banned for two charges relating to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup round-of-16 match between Cameroon and Brazil in September.

No details on the nature of the incidents were provided, but a statement from FIFA’s disciplinary committee said Eto’o had been found guilty of “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play” and “misconduct” of officials.

The punishment comes less than three months after the 43-year-old was fined by Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) following an investigation into alleged violations of its principles of ethics and integrity.

The Athletic reported in January that a former Fecafoot executive had submitted a wide-range of files — including letters, WhatsApp messages, emails and audio recordings — which they believed supported allegations that Eto’o and his close aides were involved in match-fixing, abuse of power, physical threats, inciting violence and spreading false information in Cameroon.

The CAF determined that there was not enough evidence to prove charges of alleged manipulation of football matches.

However, they did find Eto’o guilty of “violating the principles of ethics, integrity, and sportsmanship as provided in the CAF Statutes” after he became an ambassador for gambling company 1XBet. Eto’o has since appealed the decision and denies any wrongdoing.

In June 2021, Eto’o was given a 22-month suspended prison sentence and fined £1.4million ($1.7m) in June 2022 after pleading guilty to a charge of tax fraud linked to his image rights when he played in Spain.

In December 2022, Eto’o issued an apology after he appeared to knee a man in the face outside a World Cup stadium in Qatar.

Eto’o is widely regarded as one of the most successful African players of his generation, winning four Champions Leagues and four league titles across a decorated 13-year playing career in Italy and Spain.

He retired in 2019 following spells at Chelsea, Everton, Antalyaspor, Konyaspor and Qatar.

(LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)