The World Football Governing Body (FIFA) has banned Cameroonian soccer legend Samuel Eto’o from attending national team games for the next six months.

The punishment stems from an incident on September 11 at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia, where Brazil defeated Cameroon 3-1.

FIFA has charged Eto’o, the head of Cameroon’s soccer association since 2021, with “offensive behavior” and violating fair play rules. The suspension covers all men’s and women’s matches featuring Cameroon’s national teams, regardless of age.

Eto’o, 43, is one of Africa’s most famous footballers, having won four African Cups for Cameroon and two Champions League crowns with Barcelona and Inter Milan during his remarkable career as a forward.

Regardless of his accomplishments on the field, this disciplinary penalty is a huge setback to his post-playing career as the leader of Cameroonian football.

Lack of Fair Play and Misconduct

In a statement, FIFA stated that Eto’o was found to have violated disciplinary regulations relating to “offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play” as well as official misconduct.

“The ban imposed on Mr. Eto’o prevents him from attending men’s and women’s matches involving (Cameroon) teams of all categories and age groups,” soccer’s governing body stated.

FIFA stated that Eto’o’s misbehavior violated basic criteria connected to the fair conduct expected of officials, resulting in the ban. FIFA has not provided comprehensive details about the event, which occurred during a Round of 16 encounter in the Women’s World Cup, leaving specifics unknown.

However, the governing body stressed that the punishment taken precludes Eto’o from attending any Cameroon national team matches in various age levels during the ban term.

This is not the first time Eto’o has been entangled in off-field disputes, despite the fact that his leadership of the Cameroon Football Federation was widely praised for its potential to advance the country’s football development.