FILE PHOTO: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group G – Cameroon v Serbia – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar – November 28, 2022 FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Cameroon Football Federation President Samuel Eto’o was photographed in the stands before the match. REUTERS/Jennifer Lorenzini/
DOHA—Samuel Eto’o, a former Cameroon striker and current president of the country’s football federation, has apologized after a “violent conflict” with a fan as he left a match World Cup on Monday.
La Opinion, a Spanish-language newspaper based in Los Angeles, posted a video to its Twitter feed in the early hours of Tuesday morning showing Eto’o clashing with a man holding a camera. took a video outside Doha’s 974 Stadium.
The accompanying report said the 41-year-old, 41-year-old African Player of the Year, reacted angrily when a man approached and hit him as he fell to the ground in the melee.
“After the match between Brazil and Korea, I had a violent altercation with someone who was probably an Algerian fan,” Eto’o said in a statement on Twitter.
“I want to apologize for losing my temper and reacting in a way that doesn’t fit my personality. I apologize to the public for this unfortunate incident.”
Cameroon beat Algeria on away goals rule in the final two legs of their Africa qualifier against Qatar in March, coming into the World Cup in a dramatic fashion with a goal in extra time in the second game.
“Since the Cameroon-Algeria match on March 29 in Blida, I have been the target of insults and accusations of cheating without any proof,” Eto’o added.
“During this World Cup, Cameroon fans were harassed and harassed by Algerians on the same topic. I would like to mention that the failure scenario for Algeria is dire, but completely in line with the rules and ethics of our sport.”
Eto’o noted that all complaints by the Algerian Football Federation about the results of the qualifying round were denied.
“I therefore call on the authorities and the Algerian Federation to take responsibility for ending this unhealthy environmental situation before a more serious tragedy occurs,” he said.
There was no immediate comment from Qatar’s Supreme Heritage & Delivery Committee, which hosts the World Cup.
Eto’o, who enjoyed a long stellar career with long stints at Barcelona and Inter Milan, was appointed a “global ambassador” for the Supreme Committee in 2019.
Cameroon is eliminated from the World Cup right from the group stage despite beating Brazil 1-0 in their last match.
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