Samuel Eto'o, Qatar 2022 ambassador and Cameroon FA President, has apologised for what he described as a "violent altercation" at the World Cup ©Getty Images

Samuel Eto'o, the former Cameroon striker who is now his national football association's President, has apologised for what he described as a "violent altercation" at the Qatar 2022 World Cup on Monday night.

A video circulating on social media appears to show the 41-year-old kneeing a man in the head outside Stadium 974 in Doha.

Eto'o joined the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) - the organisation responsible for delivering tournament infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and its associated legacy programmes - as a global ambassador in 2019.

In a statement on his social media channels, Eto'o said he was provoked by a fan who was "probably" an Algeria supporter as what he described as part of an ongoing campaign of harassment following Cameroon's qualifying win over Algeria in March.

"After the Brazil-South Korea match, I had a violent altercation with a person who was probably an Algerian supporter," Eto'o, who played for FC Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea, wrote.

"I would like to apologise for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality.

"I apologise to the public for this unfortunate incident."

Samuel Eto'o, right, said he was provoked by a fan who was "probably" an Algeria supporter as what he described as part of an ongoing campaign of harassment following Cameroon's qualifying win over Algeria in March ©Getty Images
Samuel Eto'o, right, said he was provoked by a fan who was "probably" an Algeria supporter as what he described as part of an ongoing campaign of harassment following Cameroon's qualifying win over Algeria in March ©Getty Images

The video initially appears to show Eto'o happy to pose for pictures with fans in the area outside the stadium, which staged the last-16 match between Brazil and South Korea on Monday.

However, he then seems to react to something and is initially restrained from attacking a man by those around him.

He breaks away from those individuals and appears to strike the man in the head with his knee.

Algeria filed a complaint over the performance of the referee in the qualifying play-off in Blida, in which Cameroon's Karl Toko Ekambi scored the winner with the last kick of the match.

Eto'o added: "I pledge to continue to resist the relentless provocation and daily harassment of some Algerian supporters.

"Indeed, since the Cameroon-Algeria match on 28 March in Blida, I have been the target of insults and allegations of cheating without any evidence."

The supporter involved, Said Mamouni, posted a video to YouTube on Tuesday afternoon in which he claimed he was "attacked" by the former player.

He said: "The first thing I want to mention is that I was attacked by Samuel Eto'o.

"Look at these (bruises)!

"He hit me and I was pushed by his entourage.

"I have reported the incident to the police.

"He also smashed my camera that I was filming him with.

"I was filming him with my camera.

"I asked him about Gassama (Bakary Gassama the referee of the match between Cameroon and Algeria in World Cup qualification)...he got agitated and attacked me.

"He smashed my camera.

"He also destroyed my mic.

"I was then attacked by the person who accompanied him."

Eto'o has scored 56 goals and won 118 caps for Cameroon and represented his country at four World Cups between 1998 and 2014.

In August 2018, he had joined Qatar Stars League side Qatar Sports Club and made a new home in the country.