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Eto`o fined for Real Madrid insults (25.05.2005)
MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona striker Samuel Eto`o has been fined 12,000 euros (8,261 pounds) by the Spanish Football Federation for insulting his former club Real Madrid during his team`s title celebrations on May 15.
The 24-year-old Cameroon international chanted "Madrid, cabron, saluda al campeon" (Madrid, bastards, hail the champions) into the microphone during a speech at the Nou Camp.
Many of the 100,000 fans at the stadium to celebrate the club`s first league title in six years joined in the chorus.
The Federation`s Competition`s Committee adjudged that the African Player of the Year`s comments were "very serious" in nature and that the language he used could be seen "as an incitement to
violence."
They added that his comments were more damaging because of the degree of rivalry that exists between the two clubs.
The Committee said the fine could have been even heavier, but they took into account that the player had apologised.
The fine is one of the largest given by the Federation this season, although the player has 10 days to appeal.
Eto`o held a news conference the day after the celebrations to apologise, saying he regretted what he said about his former club.
"I never wanted to show any lack of respect to anyone.
"What happened was that in a moment of joy I started to sing and that was all. I beg forgiveness and hope that people will understand me."
