Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o has been handed a 15-match international ban by the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) for his role in organizing a players’ strike. The 30 year old Anzhi Makhachkala striker has 10 days to appeal against the ban.
Eto’o, along with vice-captain Eyong Enoh persuaded teammates not to travel to Algeria for a friendly in November after a row with the Federation over bonuses. The match in Algeria was eventually cancelled.
Enoh Eyong, who plays for Ajax, received a two-match ban, while Tottenham’s Benoit Assou-Ekotto was fined $1,980 (£1,276).
A statement on the Fecafoot’s official website read:
“Samuel Eto’o, in his role as captain, incited his team-mates to refuse to travel to Algeria.”
The federation’s disciplinary committee found Enoh guilty of ‘lacking respect for the vice-president of the Fecafoot’.
Cameroon have failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals, so the first games Eto’o will miss are the opening games in qualifying for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 World Cup.
Eto’o is the most decorated African player and has been named African Footballer of the Year four times and won an Olympic gold medal with Cameroon in 2000 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002.
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