Seven Match Ban for Samuel Eto’o

Cameroon international striker has been slapped with a hefty seven match ban.

He was among the players who boycotted a friendly against Algeria. The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) also handed down bans for vice-captain Enoh Eyong (four games) and Tottenham left-back Benoit Assou Ekotto (three).

The protest involved non-payment of bonuses from the LG Cup in Morocco which Cameroon won.

Or so it was thought. After the hearing Eto’o hinted at broader issues.

“I personally came to honour the invitation and represent my team-mates, in order to give our version of what led to the boycott of the Algeria friendly.

We brought so many proofs to back our action. Look, look, we love and respect our country, and I want to make it clear today that we don’t come here to play because we are in need of money. We take so many risks travelling down to honour our international assignments because we love our fatherland.

What happened was not the result of nonpayment of match bonuses from the LG Cup, but deep-rooted problems in the outfit that are yet to be solved.”

The Algerian Football Federation is demanding over $700,000 in damages incurred from the scrapped friendly.