September 30, (THEWILL) – Samuel Eto’o, the 43-year-old president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has received a six-month ban from FIFA, prohibiting him from attending national team matches. The sanction, announced on Monday, applies to both men’s and women’s games across various age groups and stems from violations of FIFA’s disciplinary regulations.
The incident that prompted this action occurred during the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup round-of-16 match between Brazil and Cameroon on 11 September 2024 in Bogota, Colombia. While specific details were not disclosed, FIFA’s disciplinary committee found Eto’o guilty of “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play” as well as “misconduct” involving officials.
This ban follows a recent fine imposed on Eto’o by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) less than three months ago. The CAF penalty resulted from an investigation into alleged breaches of its ethical and integrity standards, further complicating Eto’o’s tenure as FECAFOOT chief, a position he has held since 2021.
The former Barcelona striker’s leadership of Cameroonian football has been marked by controversy. This latest FIFA sanction raises questions about the impact on Cameroon’s football administration and the potential long-term consequences for the nation’s sporting reputation on the international stage.
The question of how FECAFOOT will manage its affairs during Eto’o’s absence from national team matches will be topmost for the country’s football administration. The ban may prompt calls for reforms within the organisation and could influence future governance of football in Cameroon.
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.
