October 02, (THEWILL) – The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has issued a statement challenging the six-month stadium ban imposed on its president, Samuel Eto’o, by FIFA. The federation believes the sanction stems from a misunderstanding and is considering legal action to contest the decision.
FIFA announced on Monday that Eto’o would be prohibited from attending Cameroon national team matches due to “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play”. The incident in question occurred following the Cameroon women’s Under-20 team’s 3-1 extra-time defeat to Brazil in the World Cup round of 16 in Colombia on 11 September 2024.
FECAFOOT acknowledged that Eto’o approached the match officials after the game but maintained that the interaction was cordial. The federation argued that the Brazilian team’s equaliser was “irrevocably tainted by a number of irregularities”. Additionally, FECAFOOT cited a previous match against Colombia, officiated by the same referee, where they claim an “obvious penalty” was not awarded to Cameroon.
The Cameroonian governing body expressed surprise and disappointment at FIFA’s decision, stating that it appears to be based on a misinterpretation of Eto’o’s actions. FECAFOOT asserted that Eto’o had “respectfully brought to the attention of the officials the errors which, unfortunately for Cameroon, altered the results of the two matches”.
In response to the ban, FECAFOOT indicated that Eto’o is entitled to pursue legal avenues to challenge the decision. The federation’s statement suggests a willingness to contest the ruling, emphasising their commitment to ensuring “justice is done in this matter”.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
