00s football icon banned from attending matches for 'offensive behaviour' and 'misconduct'

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Former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o has been banned from attending all Cameroon matches for six months after breaching FIFA’s disciplinary regulations.

Eto’o has been the president of the Cameroon Football Federation since 2021 but will not be permitted to watch any of their games across men’s and women’s football, including age-group matches.

‘The sanction was imposed in connection with the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup round-of-16 match between Brazil and Cameroon played in Bogota, Colombia, on 11 September 2024,’ FIFA said in a statement.

FIFA did not go into detail about the infringements but said Eto’o was deemed guilty of ‘offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play’ and ‘misconduct’ involving officials.

Eto’o and the Cameroonian delegation reacted angrily after their women’s U20 side conceded a penalty against Brazil in a last-16 clash they went on to lose 3-1 in extra-time.

The suspension comes less than three months after Eto’o was fined $200,000 by African football’s governing body for an ethics breach over a brand deal with an online gambling firm.

During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Eto’o was filmed attacking a YouTuber after a heated confrontation following Brazil’s victory over South Korea.

Eto’o is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, having won their Football of the Year award four times across a glittering career.

The legendary striker was picked up by Real Madrid at the age of 15 but failed to breakthrough at the Bernabeu, moving to fellow La Liga club Mallorca in 2000 after making just seven appearances for Madrid.

Four productive seasons at Mallorca earned Eto’o a sensational move to Barcelona, where he enjoyed huge personal and collective success, scoring 130 goals in 199 games and winning eight major trophies, including two Champions Leagues.

Eto’o also lifted the Champions League trophy at Inter Milan for Jose Mourinho’s treble-winners before having less successful stints at Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton and Antalyaspor.

The 43-year-old remains Cameroon’s all-time top scorer with 56 goals and his 116 caps has only been bettered by one player.

Eto’o helped Cameroon to glory at the African Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002 and should have won the Ballon d’Or award at least once during his career, according to Mourinho.

‘It’s difficult to understand how Samuel Eto’o never won the Ballon d’Or with the impressive career he had,’ Mourinho said back in 2019 in an interview with Cameroon Radio.

‘Samuel played for the best teams in the best leagues in the world. He scored an incredible amount of goals and was successful in different leagues.

‘He played three champions league finals, winning two with Barcelona and scoring in both finals. He also won one champions league at Inter and won many league titles.

‘He was the best striker in the world for several years and I think he deserved a Ballon d’Or but these are things out of our control.’

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