Tottenham’s Benoit Assou-Ekotto snubs Cameroon disciplinary hearing

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Getty Images)

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Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto was not seen at a Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) disciplinary hearing in Yaounde on Thursday.

Captain Samuel Eto’o and Arsenal midfielder Alex Song, who have been holidaying in the country, duly honoured their summons and are being queried by the disciplinary commission.

It is yet unclear whether Assou-Ekotto is being represented by a lawyer, which is allowed according to stipulated rules and regulations of the commission. However, if the player’s absence is a sheer disregard for the commission and Fecafoot, he runs the risk of incurring harsher sanctions.

Assou-Ekotto had been summoned to explain his absence from camp during Cameroon’s 2012 Afcon fourth round qualifying against Senegal, and for failing to submit proof of his injury to the FA’s medical team upon request.

Eto’o is to defend his absence from the team’s first training session and explain why he was opposed to coach Javier Clement’s substitution of Choupo-Moting during the encounter, while Song will be quizzed for refusing to take a handshake from the captain at a Yaounde hotel and the altercation that ensued.

The three players risk sanctions ranging from suspension, fines and exclusion from the team, according to a new code of conduct modified in the wake of Cameroon’s failure at the 2010 World Cup.

However, local observers doubt the credibility of the disciplinary commission as well as its motivation in overhauling the team. A ruling is expected by the end of today.