Former Everton star banned by FIFA and handed six-month suspension from attending games

Former Everton star banned by FIFA and handed six-month suspension from attending games

Cameroon football chief and former Everton star Samuel Eto’o has been suspended by FIFA following the Women’s Under-20 World Cup, with the striker also issued a supplementary sentence.

Samuel Eto’o, Cameroon’s football manager, has been suspended from attending national team matches for six months due to a FIFA punishment. The former Everton and Barcelona player violated FIFA’s disciplinary guidelines, the football authority confirmed.

His charges originate from his actions during Cameroon’s Women’s Under-20 World Cup last-16 loss to Brazil, which was decided 3-1 in extra time. While FIFA’s disciplinary committee did not reveal the specifics,

it did state that Eto’o was found guilty of “offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play,” as well as “misconduct” in dealings with match officials.

Eto’o and his teammates were furious about a penalty that set up Brazil’s equalizing goal in the match. Although Eto’o is forbidden from attending games, his role as president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), which he has held since 2021, remains unaffected.

FIFA indicated that the punishment will take effect immediately, and that Eto’o has the opportunity to appeal their decision. Cameroon’s men will face Kenya in two qualifying matches for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in October.

In addition, earlier on Monday, Eto’o presided over a meeting in Douala to discuss plans for upcoming matches against the Harambee Stars, according to the Mirror.

The former Chelsea player has not been without controversy; in July, he received a $200,000 (£150,000) fine for an unapproved marketing contract with an internet gambling company, which violated the Confederation of African Football’s code of conduct.

Furthermore, he has clashed with his own country’s sports administration, criticizing the “illegal” employment of Belgian Marc Brys as coach of the men’s national team earlier this year.

Eto’o, a four-time African Player of the Year and Cameroon’s second most-capped player after Rigobert Song, has been essential in his country’s occasional World Cup victories.

Since 1990, Cameroon has only won two global tournaments: a surprising victory over Brazil in Qatar recently, and a tight 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in 2002, with Eto’o’s goal the difference.

He began his career at Real Madrid before rising to prominence at Barcelona and Inter, winning the Champions League with both clubs. Notably, he scored in the 2006 and 2009 finals, contributing to Barcelona’s European supremacy. Former manager Jose Mourinho even suggested that Eto’o deserved the Ballon d’Or.

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