Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o has issued a public apology for the headbutt that saw him cop a three-game ban and 30,000 euro fine. The Cameroon captain reacted to a foul by Chievo's Bostjan Cesar on Sunday by running over to the Slovenian centre-back and headbutting him in the chest - shades of Zinedine Zidane on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final.
A repentant Eto'o issued a statement on Wednesday saying: "I want to offer my most sincere apologies to everyone who was shocked and offended by my unpleasant gesture on Sunday in Verona. "My apologies are to all the protagonists of the game, the referee, who didn't see this foul because it was out of his line of vision, but also to the Inter fans and everyone who loves football.
"I also want to apologise to my coach (Rafael Benitez) and my team-mates who will be without me for three games." The referee during the game - won 2-1 by Chievo but in which Eto'o scored an injury time consolation - missed the incident but Italian footballing authorities used video evidence to impose a ban on the 29-year-old.
Inter indicated their intention to appeal the ban but Eto'o's apology would seem to render that motion pointless. The controversy comes at an unfortunate time for Eto'o who has been the only bright spark in an otherwise poor start to the season for the European and Italian champions.