Samuel Eto’o apologizes for assaulting a man after a World Cup match

The president of the Cameroon Football Federation was filmed having an altercation with a man outside of Stadium 974.

Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o, who was also a striker, apologized for a “violent altercation” after attacking a man outside the World Cup stadium following Brazil’s 4-a-side win. -1 over South Korea earlier this week.

On Monday, fans were taking selfies with Eto’o outside Stadium 974 in Doha when a man who was filming him approached him and made some comments that angered Eto’o, as seen in videos that went viral on social networks.

At first, the former footballer was held back by his surroundings, but he broke free and appeared to kick the man in the face, who fell to the ground. The man was able to get to his feet and did not appear seriously injured.

“I had a violent altercation with a person who was probably a supporter of Algeria, I would like to apologize for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality,” Eto’o said in statements posted in French and English on his account. on Twitter on Wednesday.

He also said he has been “the target of insults and accusations of cheating without any evidence” after a controversial Cameroon-Algeria match in March.

“I pledge to continue resisting the relentless provocation and daily harassment of some Algerian supporters.”

pic.twitter.com/ErqVrwsxi5

— Samuel Eto’o (@SamuelEtoo) December 6, 2022

Eto’o, who is also an ambassador for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, called on the Algerian authorities and their soccer federation “to put an end to this unhealthy climate before a more serious tragedy occurs.”

On Monday, Algerian YouTuber Said Mamouni posted a video wearing the same clothes as in the first video and said that he was the victim of the attack.

Mamouni held up a broken camera and said that Eto’o had hit him on the chest, chin and jaw. He added that he was at a Doha police station to file a complaint against Eto’o.

“Samuel had a fight with me. He hit me and the one accompanying him pushed me. I am here to file a complaint and he also broke my camera,” Mamouni said, claiming that his comment about the March game angered Eto’o.

He said he had asked Eto’o if he had bribed Gambian referee Bakary Papa Gassama, who oversaw the match between the two teams at the Africa Cup of Nations.