Former Real Madrid and Cameroon international Geremi Njitap has been handed a five-year football ban following a dispute with a Cameroon Football Association (FECAFOOT) official.

Njitap, who leads Cameroon’s players’ union, SYNAFOC, was reportedly involved in an altercation with the official inside the Indomitable Lions’ dressing room during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

Following a disciplinary hearing by FECAFOOT, chaired by Njitap’s former national teammate Samuel Eto’o, the former international midfielder, who also featured for English Premier League side Chelsea in his career, has been banned from all football-related activities for five years as a result.

Njitap has also been fined ten million West African CFA francs (approximately $17,500 or Sh2 Million).

The altercation took place following a heated dispute between Njitap and FECAFOOT authorities over alleged mishandling of player welfare during the tournament.

Following the hearing, a statement from the FECAFOOT Ethics Committee released Wednesday read;

“We declare Geremi Sorel Njitap, president of SYNAFOC, guilty of violating the behavioral rules of our code of ethics. We sentence him to a five-year ban from all football-related activities and impose a fine of ten million West African CFA francs [approximately $17,500].

According to the statement from FECAFOOT, Njitap has ten days to submit a written appeal. He has yet to officially respond to the ban.