Samuel Eto'o has been caught on film attacking a man outside Stadium 974 in Qatar after a World Cup match.
Footage of the incident, which took place after Brazil's last-16 victory over South Korea, was shared on social media. It is unclear what sparked the behaviour, with the attack coming just seconds after Eto'o appeared happy to pose for photos with fans.
Former Chelsea and B arcelona striker Eto'o, who finished his playing career in Qatar before retiring in 2019, is the current president of the Cameroon Football Federation. The 41-year-old former striker, who won the Champions League with Barcelona and Inter Milan, has been in Qatar as a global legacy ambassador for FIFA.
However, in a video shared by La Opinion, he can be seen reacting to something said or done by a cameraman on the stadium forecourt.
Those around the Cameroonian attempt to hold him back as he approaches the man, seemingly attempting to grab and shove him away. He then appears to attack him with a knee, before being held back once more as the man - who seemed to have his camera confiscated by another man - gets to his feet.
"This shouldn’t have happened for whatever reasons! Violence has no justification!" one Twitter user wrote in response to the video. Another suggested those commenting should wait for further information to come to light before passing comment.
FIFA and the Qatari authorities will be under pressure to investigate what happened, while reports claim the individual involved - an Algerian YouTuber - will file a complaint. According to Cope, the YouTuber, identified as 'Saduni SM', claims he has filed a complaint for assault and material damage and alleges his camera was broken in the incident.
Earlier in the tournament, Cameroon manager Rigobert Song played down suggestions Eto'o's pre-tournament comments put undue pressure on his side. Eto'o had backed his country to reach the final, but they were eliminated in the group stages after a defeat to Switzerland, a draw with Serbia and a victory over Brazil.
"The president of the federation is passionate about football, he lives and breathes football,” former Liverpool defender Song said. "I would say sometimes he even wants to put on the jersey and get out on the pitch to play, because he wants to give everything.
"But that is not why my players didn’t score against Switzerland. The president is a gentleman who is very supportive.
“He was a footballer himself, he lives, breathes and dreams football, but he does not put any burden or stress on our shoulders, no. The president is someone who is easy to talk to, he is open and we communicate a lot.”
The game at Stadium 974 was a comfortable one for Brazil. The Selecao scored four first-half goals to have victory all but wrapped up before the break, with Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta all on target.
Substitute Paik Seung-ho pulled one back for South Korea, but it was not enough, with manager Paulo Bento appearing to announce his resignation after the game. Brazil will go on to face Croatia in the quarter-finals after the 2018 finalists scraped past Japan on penalties.
“I have just announced to the players and the president of the federation that this is a decision I took in September," Bento said. "It is set in stone and I have confirmed it.
"I have to thank everyone for everything they have done. From now onwards we have to think about the future. I’m going to rest and we have to see what will happen after I rest. We have to congratulate Brazil because they were better than us."
