Former Champions League winner banned from football for five years

The ban follows a major fall-out with Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o

Geremi Njitap won the Premier League with Chelsea under Jose Mourinho twice in 2005 and 2006 —  the highlights of a glittering playing career that saw him play for multiple top clubs across Europe.

The 46-year-old now retired midfielder, who earned more than one-hundred-caps for his nation, was being investigated by Cameroon’s FA over an incident that occurred during a game between Cameroon and Gambia at the African Cup of Nations in 2023. 

Since retirement, Geremi has been working as the President for the National Union of Footballers of Cameroon (Synafoc).

During the match, a row broke out between Geremi and a member of Samuel Eto’o’s staff which ultimately led to Geremi being forcibly removed from the stadium. 

The Cameroonian FA have judged the incident to be in breach of both their “behavioural rules and code of ethics” so have banned the former Newcastle United skipper for five years and fined him 10 million Cameroonian dollars — which works out at £13,000! 

It’s the joint-largest fine ever issued by the Cameroonian football’s governing body. 

On Saturday, international football players union FIFPRO released a statement that criticised the decision, suggesting the Cameroonian FA’s actions are, “part of a wider trend where football authorities misuse internal disciplinary structures to target player unions and their leaders.”

Geremi has until the end of the month to submit a written appeal.