DOHA — The president of Cameroon’s soccer federation, former soccer player Samuel Eto’o, was recorded apparently kicking a man to the ground in an altercation outside a World Cup stadium early Tuesday.
Eto’o had stopped to take pictures with fans near the 974 stadium after Brazil’s 4-1 win over South Korea. In the videos that circulated on social networks, he was seen reacting to the comments of a man who was holding a camera.
At first, the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker was held back by some of his companions, but when he got free he seemed to kick the man, who fell backwards to the floor.
Eto’o traveled to Qatar as president of the Cameroon federation, which was eliminated in the group stage last week.
He also represents the organizing committee of the World Cup in Qatar as a Global Legacy Ambassador since 2019 and is part of the FIFA Legends program, which employs former soccer players to promote soccer.
It was not clear in what capacity he attended Monday night’s game.
Qatari organizers said Eto’o was not one of their guests for the clash. FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the Cameroonian federation did not respond to phone calls and messages seeking comment.
Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Organization and Legacy, which oversees the World Cup, and the government did not immediately respond to questions about the incident.
Eto’o played in four World Cups with Cameroon between 1998 and 2014, and was chosen to lead their soccer federation a year ago.