Soccer legend Samuel Eto’o confronted a YouTuber in a heated rant following Brazil’s 4-1 World Cup defeat to South Korea on Monday.
The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea star was happy to take selfies with fans as he left the 974 Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha, smiling and seeming to pause for a moment at the crowd forming around him.
However, a few minutes later, the video shows a man with a camera following Eto’o as he walks away from the group, repeatedly saying something as Eto’o tries to avoid him.
Then, after a short time away, an angry Eto’o returned and began attacking a man who identified himself as Said Mamouni, an Algerian YouTuber with more than 67,000 followers. As he starts to run away and try to stop Eto’o (still being recorded), the former forward is held back by a group of people hoping to diffuse the situation.
Their efforts were in vain. Eto’o quickly broke away from the group and again attacked the crouching Mamuni. Unable to control himself, Eto’o brutally kneed Mamuni in the face and fell backwards to the ground.
Eto’o again held his own and was finally picked up by those around him. Mamouni quickly got up and was able to walk away, although it is unclear what injuries he sustained.
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Mamouni said in a YouTube video that he reported Eto’o to the Dubai police.
“I am at the police station to file a complaint against Eto’o,” Mamouni said in the video. “He hit me and someone with him pushed me and destroyed my camera.”
Eto’o, 41, has played 118 games as president of Cameroon’s football federation in Qatar and featured in four World Cups for the national team – a title he has held since last year – and also serves as a “heritage ambassador”. does. for the tournament.
Mamouni said Cameroon, one of the most recent qualifiers, was a controversial World Cup qualifier after they booked their ticket earlier this year after defeating Algeria, sparking controversy. Algeria was furious with the referees in that match and called for an official replay.
Mamuni claimed that Eto’o lost his temper after asking the referee in charge of Cameroon’s victory over Algeria, Bakary Papa Gassama, whether he had received a bribe or not.
After Cameroon’s group stage exit from the World Cup, it is unclear in what capacity Eto’o attended the match. A spokeswoman for Cameroon’s federation and FIFA also did not respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment on the incident.
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