Samuel Eto’o sanctioned: Cameroonians’ red card at Fifa

Former Cameroonian international Bernard Tchoutang believes, in statements to the international press, that this suspension is “disproportionate” and that “a simple call to order would have sufficed. This sanction from FIFA, a body which is not exempt from all reproach, is not insignificant and means that we can no longer say anything.

This feeling of injustice of which the icon Eto’o is a victim is widely shared in Yaoundé after the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) activated article 13 of the disciplinary code to impose a sanction on the president of the Cameroonian Federation of Football (Fecafoot), Samuel Eto’o Fils.

The former captain of the Indomitable Lions is notably accused of having adopted offensive behavior in violation of the principles of fair play during the round of 16 match of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup. Match lost after extra time by Cameroon against Brazil (1-3), after a performance considered excellent by the former captain of the Indomitable Lions. Fifa would also have noted the incorrect behavior of the Cameroonian players and that of other members of the delegation, particularly during a penalty awarded to the Brazil team.

Samuel Eto’o Fils will therefore be forced to watch on the small screen all the matches of the national women’s and men’s teams involved in international confrontations, until March 31, 2025. A sanction considered excessive in Cameroon, particularly in Yaoundé, where many citizens agree with their compatriot, given the injustice suffered by the indomitable lionesses.

Read also: FIFA imposes a heavy suspension on Samuel Eto’o

Cameroonians underline that African countries are regularly victims of refereeing errors during international competitions without this disturbing the leaders of Fifa.

A sanction that goes badly especially since “several witnesses assure that, during the match lost against Brazil, Samuel Eto’o even dissuaded the Cameroonian players and officials from protesting to the Italian referee.reports the French daily Le Monde.

In Yaoundé, fans of the Indomitable Lions invite the president of Fecafoot to remain calm because he will have carried the voice of all Cameroonians.

This sanction is the second of the year for the president of Fecafoot, since he was fined 180,000 euros by the Confederation of African Football last July. The body judged that Samuel Eto’o had violated the principles of ethics and integrity that it advocates after signing an ambassador contract with the online betting company 1xBet.