The recent decision by FIFA to ban Samuel Eto’o, an African football icon and current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, for six months from all national team games has raised serious concerns about how the world’s football governing body handles African figures in the sport. Eto’o was accused of “offensive behavior” and “violating the principles of fair play” during the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Colombia, yet FIFA failed to provide clear and detailed explanations for the charges, reinforcing a persistent criticism: FIFA seems to apply disproportionate measures when judging African players and officials.
This action brings up an inevitable question: why are African figures in football systematically subjected to harsher punishments, often without the same transparency or caution seen in cases involving European or South American counterparts? Eto’o’s suspension, which prevents him from participating in critical matches such as the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, underscores how FIFA acts more as a punitive force rather than a fair regulatory body.
The parallel with the International Criminal Court (ICC)
FIFA’s disproportionate treatment of Africans is strikingly similar to the conduct of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has gained notoriety for prosecuting almost exclusively African leaders, while leaders from Western countries, often equally or more responsible for conflicts and crimes, remain immune to its sanctions. Like the ICC, FIFA positions itself as a global, supposedly neutral institution, but its actions reveal an institutional bias that repeatedly targets Africans. Despite the ICC’s stated goal of promoting international justice, it has shown itself to be selective, often focusing only on African countries while ignoring abuses and crimes committed by major global powers.
In football, FIFA operates in a similar manner, punishing African figures harshly while officials from other continents involved in scandals often receive more lenient sanctions or, in many cases, are shielded by networks of political and financial influence. The punishment of Samuel Eto’o, without sufficient clarity about what truly transpired, is a bitter reminder of this double standard: Africa is swiftly condemned, while the rest of the world appears to have more leeway for mistakes and behavior.
Inequality of treatment in football
The history of football is filled with examples of African leaders and players being subject to disciplinary actions that, in many cases, would not be applied as severely to figures from other continents. Sanctions are often disproportionate, and the impact of these decisions goes beyond the individual punished, affecting the development of football in Africa and perpetuating a sense of subordination of the continent in the global sporting arena. For African football, which already faces challenges in terms of funding, infrastructure, and visibility, such decisions add yet another obstacle to overcome.
Football, as a universal sport, should be a field of equal opportunity, yet FIFA’s selective posture reinforces the notion that Africans are still treated as “outsiders” on the global stage, where the rules seem to be different for them. What happened to Eto’o, one of the greatest players of all time, is a clear example of how unequal treatment continues to dominate the discourse surrounding the sport.
Impact beyond football
Eto’o’s punishment is more than just a sporting issue; it reflects a global approach where powerful institutions often target the weak while protecting the strong. Football mirrors society, and what we see in FIFA reflects a global reality where Africa and its leaders are systematically oppressed, criticized, and punished with disproportionate severity. FIFA’s actions are reminiscent of what the ICC has done repeatedly: scrutinizing and condemning African leaders with a magnifying glass, while powerful figures from other regions escape accountability.
The future of African football
For African football to thrive, FIFA must undergo reform and begin applying its rules fairly and transparently across all continents. Samuel Eto’o’s case is a wake-up call for those who believe in inclusive and just sports. This is not just about punishing or not punishing a prominent figure; it is about how global football chooses its targets and perpetuates inequalities that should have long been eradicated.
African football, like the continent itself, deserves to be treated with the respect and dignity its talent and potential offer. As long as FIFA continues to act like a biased tribunal, selectively punishing African leaders much like the ICC, football will remain tainted by politics that have little to do with the principles of justice and fair play that the organization claims to uphold.