The Confederation of African Football has imposed a four-match stadium ban and a $20,000 fine on Cameroon Football Federation President Samuel Eto'o for alleged misconduct during the Indomitable Lions' 2-0 quarterfinal defeat to hosts Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations. The legendary former Barcelona and Chelsea striker was found guilty of violating sportsmanship principles outlined in Article 2(3) of the CAF Statutes.
CAF's disciplinary board ruled that Eto'o violated Article 82 of the CAF Disciplinary Code during the match held last Friday in Morocco. According to reports, the former footballer was seen making angry gestures and loudly expressing his frustration over refereeing decisions in the presence of CAF President Patrice Motsepe. His conduct in the stands drew immediate attention from officials monitoring the VIP section.
The Cameroonian Football Federation responded strongly to the sanctions, calling the decision lacking any explicit justification. FECAFOOT issued a statement expressing serious concerns regarding the fundamental requirements of a fair process, suggesting the expedited procedure leading to this decision raised questions about due process. The federation hinted at possible bias against Cameroon in its response.
FECAFOOT confirmed it would pursue all available legal remedies to challenge the ruling. The federation stated that the CAF decision is devoid of any explicit justification and suggested there exists a climate of favoritism which they believe is detrimental to their national team. The appeal process is expected to begin immediately as the federation prepares its legal arguments.
Eto'o, who won the African Player of the Year award four times during his illustrious playing career, took over as FECAFOOT president in December 2021. His tenure has been marked by ambitious goals to develop Cameroonian football but has also faced controversies, including disputes with the national team coaching staff and government sports authorities.
The ban means Eto'o will be prohibited from attending the next four official CAF matches involving Cameroon at the continental level. This includes potential knockout stage matches should Cameroon qualify for future tournaments. The fine must be paid according to CAF regulations before the federation can be considered in good standing.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between football federation officials and continental governing bodies regarding conduct standards at major tournaments. CAF has increasingly enforced stricter behavioral codes for officials and executives attending matches, particularly following several high-profile incidents at recent tournaments.