Fifa sanction for football chief

Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) chief Samuel Eto’o has been banned from attending the national team’s matches for six months after violating Fifa’s disciplinary regulations, according to the football’s governing body. The former Barcelona striker has been president of Fecafoot since 2021 and will now be barred from all men’s and women’s games across various age groups, says an Al Jazeera report. ‘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. Details regarding the incidents were not disclosed by Fifa's disciplinary committee. The statement said Eto’o was deemed guilty of ‘offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play’ and ‘misconduct’ involving officials. In July, Eto’o was fined $200 000 for a brand deal with an online gambling firm ruled to be an ethics violation by the Confederation of African Football. Eto’o was also in conflict with his country’s Sports Ministry, calling their appointment of Belgian Marc Brys earlier this year as the men’s team coach 'illegal'. Eto’o, a four-time African Player of the Year, is the second most-capped player in Cameroon’s history behind Rigobert Song. In 2022, he was filmed attacking a man outside a stadium during the Fifa World Cup in Qatar following a heated exchange and a confrontation.