Eto’o Assaults Journalist

INDOMITABLE LIONS of Cameroon striker, Samuel Eto’o Fils last Friday assaulted a sports journalist, Philippe Boney, at a press conference prior to their joint African and World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde in Yaounde. Reports from Yaounde indicated that the Barcelona striker who was at the press conference with other Cameroonian players, head-butted Philippe Boney, who was talking to some of his colleagues at the function. Speaking to Canal 2 International Television Station in Cameroon yesterday, Boney said immediately he entered the conference hall, he saw Eto’o moving towards him trying to hold his attire. Eto’o who was prevented by Song from assaulting the player, later forced his way through the heavy crowd and allegedly head-butted the journalist on the mouth resulting in a serious injury. The journalist who claimed to have a loose tooth, was subsequently hospitalised. “He head-butted me and I did not react because I knew the Lions were to engage Cape Verde the following day, and people would have condemned my action because Eto’o could not have played that game,” he lamented. Investigations conducted by DAILY GUIDE SPORTS indicated that both the Minister of Sports and Roger Milla, who is considered Ambassador for football in Cameroon, did not condemn Eto’o’s action. Surprisingly, the Minister, when contacted, said Eto’o and the journalist in question were good friends. It was the President of Sports Writers Association of Cameroon (PAJS) Emmanuel Gustave Samnick who strongly issued a statement yesterday to condemn Eto’o’s action. Gustave Samnick described the physical aggression by the player as irresponsible behaviour that needs to be punished. “We need to put in place some measures to avoid a reoccurrence”. Credible information from Cameroon quoted Eto’o as saying that he would not play for Cameroon again if sports journalists continued to bug players. Reliable sources told DAILY GUIDE SPORTS that Roger Milla was the first person to call Boney, pleading with the journalist not to take a court action, while the Sports Minister continued asking for peace to prevail between the journalist and Eto’o. If the case goes to court, Eto’o could be heavily fined in addition to six months to 5 years imprisonment. But at the time of going to press, Mr. Boney had not taken any court action against the footballer, despite intense pressure from PAJS members for him to do so.