Samuel Eto’o Sanctions Geremi Njitap with Five-Year Ban and £13k Fine
Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o has imposed a five-year ban and a fine of £13,000 on former teammate Geremi Njitap. The sanctions come after a heated dispute during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where Geremi, who served as the head of Cameroon’s players' union (SYNAFOC), allegedly confronted members of Eto’o’s staff in the national team dressing room. Following an investigation, FECAFOOT’s ethics committee ruled that Geremi had breached the federation’s code of conduct.
The decision effectively bars Geremi from all football-related activities within Cameroon until 2030. His assistant, Daniel Blaise Ngos, was also sanctioned with a two-year ban and a fine of £6,500. However, controversy surrounds the ruling, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had previously instructed FECAFOOT to halt its disciplinary proceedings, arguing that the matter fell under CAF’s jurisdiction since it occurred during one of its tournaments.
Despite CAF's stance, FECAFOOT proceeded with its judgment, escalating tensions between the nation’s top football figures. Geremi has since vowed to challenge the decision and is reportedly preparing to take legal action, possibly involving the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This ongoing conflict highlights deeper rifts within Cameroonian football’s leadership and raises questions about the limits of federation authority during international competitions.
