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Former Cameroon soccer star Samuel Eto'o apologizes after kicking fan in the face during altercation

Samuel Eto'o attends a training session on the eve of the 2022 World Cup football match between Cameroon and Serbia. (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Samuel Eto'o attends a training session on the eve of the 2022 World Cup football match between Cameroon and Serbia. (Photo by ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Cameroon soccer star and current Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o apologized Tuesday after getting into a "violent altercation" with a fan Monday at the World Cup.

Eto'o released a statement in which he alleged that the fan was a supporter of Algeria. Eto'o also claimed that he has been the target of "insults and allegations of cheating" since Cameroon defeated Algeria in the third round of the event. He said Algerian fans harassed and pestered him after the game.

Eto'o called the skirmish an "unfortunate incident" that does not reflect his personality.

Video of the encounter appears to show Eto'o confronting a man with a camera. The two appear to exchange words, though it's unclear what is said. At one point in the video, Eto'o, who is being held back by multiple people, charges at the man and kicks him in the face. Eto'o walks away after the kick. The man gets up, grabs his camera and walks off in the opposite direction.

Eto'o had a lengthy professional career, spending time with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Mallorca and Chelsea, among other clubs. He was a member of the Cameroon Olympic team that won a gold medal in 2000.

Eto'o retired as a professional in 2019. In 2021, he was named the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation.