A bizarre interaction between soccer legend Samuel Eto’o and a photographer surfaced on Monday night. The former Barcelona and Inter Milan star left Stadium 974 in Doha following Brazil victory over South Korea in the World Cup. Fans and photographers swarmed the legend looking to snap a picture or selfie.
The interactions between the former player and photographers were initially cordial. Eto’o was smiling and talking to the photographers in the beginning of the video. However, one cameraman in particular seemed to set Eto’o off.
Eto’o passes the photographer in question, but then walks back to have a discussion with the man. No one knows that the cameraman said to provoke Eto’o.
Nevertheless, someone apparently in the former player’s entourage takes the camera from the man and Eto’o then violently kicks the photographer in the face. Following the incident, the two men go their separate ways.
Samuel Eto’o kicks photographer
Eto’o is currently president of the Cameroon Football Association. The African nation finished third in Group G of the 2022 World Cup. Despite beating tournament favorites Brazil in the last game of the group, Cameroon failed to advance to the knockout round.
The former striker scored 56 goals in 118 total games for the Cameroon national team. His senior international career spanned from 1997 to 2014, when he retired from the team. Eto’o helped lead Cameroon to two African Cup of Nations triumphs and the 2000 Olympic gold medal.
Along with his role with the Cameroon national team, Eto’o is also a Global Legacy Ambassador for FIFA and Qatar’s World Cup organizing committee. The governing body of the sport uses former players to help grow the sport on a global level.
FIFA, Qatar’s World Cup organizers, and Eto’o himself have not yet issued a statement on the incident.
PHOTO: IMAGO / PanoramiC
