By Joiner Martínez
30 Sep 2024, 17:48 PM EDT
The FIFA Disciplinary Commission made a strong decision regarding Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT).
For the next six months, the former striker will not be able to attend Cameroon national team matches due to a sanction imposed for violating the rules of conduct at the recent U-20 Women’s World Cup.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Commission has imposed a sanction on the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o, prohibiting him from attending matches of the Cameroon national teams for six months for failing to comply with the arts. 13 (“offensive conduct and violations of the principles of fair play”) and 14 (“improper conduct of players and officials”) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” the statement reads.
This sanction is directly related to the round of 16 match between Brazil and Cameroon, played on September 11 in Bogotá (Colombia). FIFA has considered that Eto’o did not respect the principles of fair play and showed improper conduct during this specific match.
“The decision has been notified to Mr. Eto’o today, the date on which the sanction comes into force,” adds the note that was released publicly by FIFA. The former striker, 43 years old, with a successful past in European giants such as Real Madrid, Mallorca and Barcelona, has been at the center of controversy on several occasions due to inappropriate behavior in both sporting and public contexts.
During the World Cup in Qatar, Eto’o was the protagonist of an altercation with a fan who was recording him outside a stadium. This incident adds to another controversial episode in which he threatened the national coach, Marc Brys, in front of the cameras for not following his instructions. These behaviors call into question the image of the former player and current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation.
The impact of this sanction extends to all categories and age groups of the FECAFOOT men’s and women’s teams. This means that Eto’o will not be able to be present in any stadium where Cameroonian national teams play until his suspension ends.
Furthermore, the former Cameroonian player will have to face the consequences not only on a sporting level, but also in his role as president of the Federation, where his absence from important commitments will put his management under the magnifying glass.
FIFA has emphasized that the sanction imposed on the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation is a stark reminder that world football’s governing body has zero tolerance for behavior that violates its ethical and disciplinary regulations. “It is crucial that everyone involved in football understands that the rules are there to be respected, regardless of who the person is or their status,” the official statement concludes.
It is not the only conflict front that the four-time World Cup winner with Cameroon must resolve: he is facing a lawsuit for not paying the support of Erika Do Rosario Nieves, his 22-year-old daughter. It amounts to more than $72,000 dollars and, if you do not pay, you can end up in prison.
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Former FC Barcelona footballer Samuel Eto’o is denounced for refusing to pay child support for his daughter
Former soccer player Samuel Eto’o could go to prison for not complying with his daughter’s support