DOHA, QATAR (AP) – Cameroon football federation president and former star player Samuel Eto’o (AP, pic below) was filmed apparently kicking a man to the ground in an altercation outside a World Cup stadium yesterday.
Eto’o had paused to pose for photos with fans near Stadium 974 after Brazil beat South Korea 4-1. Footage circulating on social media showed him then reacting to comments by a man holding a camera.
The former Barcelona and Inter Milan forward was initially held back by people in his entourage then got clear and appeared to aim a kick at the man, who fell backwards to the ground.
Eto’o has been in Qatar as president of the football federation of Cameroon, which was eliminated in the group stage last week.
He also represents Qatar’s World Cup organising committee as a Global Legacy Ambassador since 2019 and is part of the FIFA Legends programme that uses former players to promote football.
It was unclear in what capacity Eto’o attended the game early yesterday.
Qatari organisers said Eto’o had not been their guest at the game.
Eto’o played at four World Cups for Cameroon between 1998 and 2014, and was elected to lead its football federation one year ago.
