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Cameroon trio in hot water

Image: Song: Faces disciplinary proceedings

Cameroon trio Samuel Eto'o, Alex Song and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are to all face disciplinary proceedings.

Eto'o, Song and Assou-Ekotto face disciplinary proceedings

Samuel Eto'o, Alex Song and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are to all face disciplinary proceedings, according to a Cameroon football federation official. A Fecafoot official, speaking on condition of anonymity, named the three players to AFP on Thursday, Eto'o has been summoned because "he didn't train after an incident with Alexandre Song and interfered in the substitution of a player in the Cameroon-Senegal match (on 4th June)". During the match in question, a 0-0 draw in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, Eto'o openly expressed his dissatisfaction when forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was replaced by full-back Henri Bedimo. "If I cause disciplinary problems in the national team, they should punish me," Eto'o said last Sunday to STV2. Arsenal midfielder Song has been summoned due to "the incident with Eto'o," according to the same official.

Snub

A few days prior to the Senegal match, Song - who was making his return to the Cameroon squad after being temporarily excluded following last year's World Cup - refused to shake Eto'o's out-stretched hand. "Don't give this incident more importance than it deserves," Song said in an interview with the daily Le Jour on 9th June. Tottenham Hotspur left-back Assou-Ekotto has been asked to explain why he did not send a "note" justifying his absence from the 4th June match, despite having received a call-up. The three players have eight days to respond to the summons and can choose either to appear in person or to be represented by a third party. Once the hearings have taken place, Fecafoot will decide whether or not to issue sanctions. Last August, Fecafoot adopted a new disciplinary code for players and staff, with possible punishments ranging up to "definitive exclusion from the national team".

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