Samuel Eto’o filmed in altercation outside World Cup game
DOHA, Qatar — Cameroon soccer federation president and former star participant Samuel Eto’o was filmed apparently kicking a person to the bottom in an altercation exterior a World Cup stadium early Tuesday.
Eto’o had paused to pose for images with followers close to Stadium 974 after Brazil beat South Korea 4-1. Footage circulating on social media confirmed him then reacting to feedback by a person holding a digicam.
The former Barcelona and Inter Milan ahead was initially held again by folks in his entourage, however he then obtained clear and appeared to goal a kick on the man, who fell backward to the bottom.
The man, Algerian social media persona Said Mamouni, later revealed a video on YouTube saying he was the one that was attacked, and that he was at a Qatari police station to file a grievance in opposition to Eto’o.
“Samuel had a fight with me. He hit me, and the one accompanying him pushed me. I’m here to lodge a complaint and he also smashed my camera,” Mamouni stated.
He stated that Eto’o turned violent after Mamouni requested him whether or not he had bribed Gambian referee Bakary Gassama in a controversial World Cup qualifier between Cameroon and Algeria in March. Cameroon received the second leg 2-1 within the remaining moments of the match and certified for the World Cup on the away targets rule.
Algeria’s soccer federation filed a grievance with FIFA, soccer’s governing physique, demanding a replay of the match due to what it deemed have been referring errors made by Gassama. FIFA dismissed the grievance.
But Algeria’s grievance additionally carried over to the Cameroon group’s first official news convention in Qatar, in the future earlier than taking part in Switzerland. An Algerian reporter’s query to Cameroon coach Rigobert Song about having “bought qualification” wasn’t answered.
Eto’o has been in Qatar as president of the soccer federation of Cameroon, which was eradicated within the group stage final week.
He additionally represents Qatar’s World Cup organizing committee as a Global Legacy Ambassador since 2019 and is a part of the FIFA Legends program that makes use of former gamers to advertise soccer.
It was unclear in what capability Eto’o attended the sport Monday night time.
Qatari organizers stated Eto’o hadn’t been their visitor on the recreation. FIFA didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. A spokesman for the Cameroon federation didn’t instantly reply telephone calls or reply to messages searching for remark.
Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which oversees the World Cup, and its authorities didn’t instantly reply to questions concerning the incident.
Eto’o performed at 4 World Cups for Cameroon between 1998 and 2014, and was elected to guide its soccer federation one yr in the past.
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