Former Barcelona and Chelsea star handed six-month ban by FIFA from attending national team matches

Former Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o has been handed a six-month ban from attending national team matches by FIFA.

The 43-year-old has served as the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) since 2021, with his tenure seeing several controversial incidents.

He was sanctioned by FIFA for breaching two articles of the governing body's disciplinary code.

A FIFA statement confirmed the breaches occurred around a FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup last-16 match between Brazil and Cameroon.

Brazil beat Cameroon 3-1 after extra time in the match, which took place in Bogata, Colombia.

No details were provided on the nature of the incidents which led to his ban. 

'The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the President of the Cameroonian Football Association (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o, with a six-month ban from attending matches of Cameroon’s representative teams for breaches of articles 13 (Offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play) and 14 (Misconduct of players and officials) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,' a FIFA statement read.

'The sanction was imposed in connection with the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup round-of-16 match between Brazil and Cameroon played in Bogotá, Colombia, on 11 September 2024.

'The ban imposed on Mr Eto’o prevents him from attending men's and women's matches involving FECAFOOT teams of all categories and age groups.'

FIFA added that Eto'o had been notified and the decision came into effect immediately.

Eto’o has been sanctioned less than three months after he was fined $200,000 (£150,000) by the Confederation of African Football for an ethics breach.

The continental body had found Eto’o to have ‘seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship’ by signing a contract to be an ambassador for betting company 1XBET.

Eto’o’s lawyers confirmed he would appeal the sanction.

The three-time Champions League winner had been facing charges of alleged manipulation of football matches.

CAF’s disciplinary body ruled there was ‘insufficient evidence’ to find Eto’o guilty.

Eto'o, one of the greatest Cameroonian footballers in all-time, scored 56 goals in 118 caps for his country.

After a hugely impressive career for the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea, the former striker - who won the Champions League three times and AFCON twice - took on the presidency of Fecafoot in December 2021.

His tenure has seen several controversies, including a public dispute with Cameroon's Ministry of Sport over the appointment of Marc Brys as national team manager.

Eto'o had an explosive confrontation with Brys in May, leading him to him sacking the Belgian, before later apologising and reinstating the coach. 

The 43-year-old also issued an apology following an incident at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, admitting a 'violent altercation' after he was filmed appearing to knee a man in the face.

Meanwhile, he pleaded guilty to a $3.8m (£2.96m) tax fraud in June 2022 in relation to his image rights while at Barcelona, with Eto'o handed a suspended 22-month prison sentence and fined $1.8m (£1.4m).