FIFA bans Cameroon soccer great and FA chief Samuel Eto’o from national team games for 6 months

By Associated Press

ZURICH: Cameroon soccer great Samuel Eto’o was banned by FIFA on Monday from attending any national team games for six months.

Eto’o, who has been president of the Cameroon soccer federation since 2021, faced two charges from an incident at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia on Sept. 11.

FIFA did not specify details of what happened at the round of 16 game that Brazil won against Cameroon 3-1 after extra time.

Eto’o was judged to have broken disciplinary rules relating to “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play” and misconduct of officials, FIFA said.

“The ban imposed on Mr. Eto’o prevents him from attending men’s and women’s matches involving (Cameroon) teams of all categories and age groups,” FIFA said in a statement.

That period through March includes men’s national team games in qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 43-year-old Eto’o played for Cameroon at four World Cups from 1998 to 2014, missing only the 2006 edition, and scored a record 56 goals for the Indomitable Lions. He played in two Africa Cup of Nations title-winning teams, in 2000 and 2002.

He won three Champions League titles, including back to back in 2009 with Barcelona and 2010 with Inter Milan, in a storied career as one of soccer’s top forwards.