Cameroon soccer legend Samuel Eto’o has been hit with a six-month ban by FIFA, forbidding him from attending any matches involving the national team.
The suspension stems from a disciplinary incident during the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia on September 11, although FIFA has not disclosed specific details regarding the occurrence at the match where Brazil triumphed over Cameroon 3-1 after extra time.
Eto’o, who has served as the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation since 2021, was found in violation of FIFA’s disciplinary rules related to “offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play,” as well as misconduct involving officials.
The ban means that the 43-year-old soccer icon will be absent from all men’s and women’s matches involving Cameroonian teams across all age groups, a hiatus that will cover essential qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The former forward, who represented Cameroon at four World Cups from 1998 to 2014, holds the record for the most goals scored for the Indomitable Lions, netting 56 times.
Eto’o was instrumental in winning two Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002 and boasts a stellar club career, capturing three Champions League trophies, including back-to-back titles with Barcelona in 2009 and Inter Milan in 2010.
His contributions to soccer have solidified his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.
