7:33 AM ET
Associated Press
DOHA, Qatar -- Cameroon shot federation president and erstwhile prima subordinate Samuel Eto'o has apologised for being progressive successful a "violent altercation" with a antheral extracurricular a World Cup stadium connected Tuesday.
Eto'o had paused to airs for photos with fans adjacent Stadium 974 aft Brazil's 4-1 triumph implicit South Korea successful the circular of 16. Footage circulating connected societal media showed him past reacting to comments by a antheral holding a camera.
The erstwhile Barcelona and Inter Milan guardant was initially held backmost by radical successful his entourage past got wide and appeared to purpose a footwear astatine the man, who fell backward to the ground.
Later connected Tuesday, Eto'o released a connection connected Twitter and said: "On past Dec. 5, aft the Brazil-South Korea match, I had a convulsive altercation with a idiosyncratic who was astir apt an Algerian supporter.
"I would similar to apologise for losing my temper and reacting successful a mode that does not lucifer my personality. I apologise to the nationalist for this unfortunate incident.
"I pledge to proceed to defy the relentless provocation and regular harassment of immoderate Algerian supporters. Indeed, since the Cameroon-Algeria lucifer connected March 29 successful Blida, I person been the people of insults and allegations of cheating without immoderate evidence.
— Samuel Eto'o (@SamuelEtoo) December 6, 2022"During this World Cup, Cameroonian fans person been harassed and pestered by Algerians connected the aforesaid subject. I would similar to notation that the script of Algeria's decision was cruel but perfectly successful enactment with the rules and morals of our sport.
"All the appeals made by the Algerian Football Federation to the competent Jurisdictions person been rejected. I truthful telephone connected the Algerian authorities and Federation to instrumentality their responsibilities to enactment an extremity to this unhealthy clime earlier a much superior calamity occurs.
"To Fennecs' fans, I privation that they find bid and negociate to flooded the disappointment of a achy defeat, present down us."
The man, Algerian societal media property Said Mamouni, aboriginal published a video connected YouTube saying helium was the idiosyncratic who was attacked, and that helium was astatine a Qatari constabulary presumption to record a ailment against Eto'o.
"Samuel had a combat with me. He deed me, and the 1 accompanying him pushed me. I'm present to lodge a ailment and helium besides smashed my camera," Mamouni said.
He said that Eto'o became convulsive aft Mamouni asked him whether helium had bribed Gambian referee Bakary Gassama successful a arguable World Cup qualifier betwixt Cameroon and Algeria successful March.
Cameroon won the 2nd limb 2-1 successful the last moments of the lucifer and qualified for the World Cup connected the distant goals rule.
Algeria's shot federation filed a ailment with FIFA, football's governing body, demanding a replay of the lucifer due to the fact that of what it deemed were referring errors made by Gassama. FIFA dismissed the complaint.
But Algeria's grievance besides carried implicit to the Cameroon team's archetypal authoritative quality league successful Qatar, 1 time earlier playing Switzerland. An Algerian reporter's question to Cameroon manager Rigobert Song astir having "bought qualification" wasn't answered.
Eto'o has been successful Qatar arsenic president of the shot federation of Cameroon, who were eliminated successful the radical signifier past week.
He besides represents Qatar's World Cup organising committee arsenic a Global Legacy Ambassador since 2019 and is portion of the FIFA Legends programme that uses erstwhile players to beforehand football.
It was unclear successful what capableness Eto'o attended the crippled connected Monday night. FIFA did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.
Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which oversees the World Cup, and its authorities did not instantly respond to questions astir the incident.
Eto'o played astatine 4 World Cups for Cameroon betwixt 1998 and 2014, and was elected to pb their shot federation 1 twelvemonth ago.
ESPN has approached the Cameroon FA for comment.
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