Fatshimetrie announced yesterday a decision that has shaken the football world: Samuel Eto’o, Cameroonian football legend and current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, has been suspended by FIFA for six months. This sanction follows an incident that occurred during the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia on September 11.
The precise details of the incident have not been released by FIFA, but it appears that Eto’o violated disciplinary rules regarding offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play, as well as misconduct towards officials. This suspension means that the former star striker will not be able to attend matches involving Cameroonian national teams of all categories and age groups for a period of six months.
This decision is all the more striking given that Samuel Eto’o, aged 43, is an emblematic figure in African football. Having participated in four World Cups from 1998 to 2014 and won two Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon, he has written his name in the history of world football as one of the best strikers of his generation. His impressive list of achievements also includes three Champions Leagues, including two consecutive ones in 2009 with FC Barcelona and in 2010 with Inter Milan.
This suspension is likely to weigh heavily on Cameroonian football, especially in this crucial period of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The absence of such an iconic figure could have repercussions on the dynamics of the national team and on Cameroonian football as a whole.
It remains to be seen how Samuel Eto’o will react to this suspension and how the Cameroonian Football Federation will handle this delicate situation. One thing is for sure, the football world will hold its breath waiting to see how this matter evolves in the months to come.