World football governing body (FIFA) has handed
Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) president Samuel Eto’o a six-month ban from attending any international matches involving his country.
The ban was handed to Eto’o by a FIFA disciplinary panel.
Eto’o’ was sanctioned following breaches of two articles of the world governing body’s disciplinary code.
The ban was issued in connection with the Under-20 Women’s World Cup last-16 game between Cameroon and Brazil on 11 September which the South Americans won 3-1 after extra time.
According to a FIFA statement, external, articles relating to offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play and misconduct of players and officials were breached at the game in Bogota, Colombia, which Eto’o attended.
The former Barcelona star is now prevented from attending all football matches involving men’s and women’s representative sides from Cameroon, covering all categories and age groups.
According to FIFA, the sanction would come into force immediately and that Eto’o had been notified of the decision.
Cameroon’s men face Kenya in a qualification double-header for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in October.
This is the latest sanction to hit Eto’o, who was fined $200,000 by the CAF in July for an ethics breach.
A disciplinary panel found that the four-time African Footballer of the Year had seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship of CAF by signing a contract to be an ambassador for betting company 1XBET.
His lawyers said they would appeal against the verdict, which came after a CAF investigation found insufficient evidence to pursue a charge related to allegations of match-fixing.
Eto’o enjoyed a glittering playing career both in Europe and with Cameroon but has provoked controversy since being elected as Fecafoot president in 2021.
He was involved in a long-running dispute with the nation’s Ministry of Sport over the naming of Marc Brys as coach of the Indomitable Lions earlier this year before eventually accepting the Belgian’s appointment.
After winning the Treble with Barcelona in the 2008/2009 season under Pep Guardiola, Eto’o went on to achieve the same feat the following campaign at Inter with Jose Mourinho in charge.
He won two AFCON titles (2000, 2002) with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and an Olympic gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
