A former Chelsea star who won two Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge has been banned from "all forms of football activity for five years", it has been announced. Geremi, who infamously saw his spot-kick saved in the Champions League semi-final penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool in 2007, was notified of this decision by the Cameroon FA after a spat with ex-Blue and president Samuel Eto'o.
The 46-year-old joined the London club from Real Madrid in 2003 following a successful loan spell at Middlesbrough where he scored seven in 34 top flight appearances. At Chelsea, Geremi would go on to make 109 appearances, netting on four occasions.
After starting out well and becoming a fan-favourite, as time went on he would soon become out-of-favour under Jose Mourinho who preferred to use him out-of-position as a right back. He was still held in high regard by the Portuguese, with the 'special one' quoted in an interview: "In my team I love to have Geremi on the bench because he's a low-profile player who is ready to help, ready to fight for the team, ready to do the job I want him to do.
LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 02: Geremi (L) of Chelsea is congratulated by Didier Drogba after scoring the fourth goal of the game during the Barclays Premiership match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on October 2, 2005 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)
Geremi and Didier Drogba celebrating a goal at Anfield in 2005 (Image: Ben Radford/Getty Images)
"If I need him to play right-back, he can play right-back. If I need him to play right-winger, he can play right-winger. If I need him to pick up a man and mark him out of the game, he does it."
His final year at Chelsea saw him score the winning goal against West Ham United with a long-range free-kick which turned out to be his final strike in a blue shirt. Geremi's final game would then be that heart-breaking night at Anfield when he came on as an extra-time substitute and saw his penalty saved by Pepe Reina, leading to defeat.
The Cameroonian would go on to captain Newcastle United before short spells at Ankaragücü in Turkey and AEL in Greece.
Since hanging up his boots, Geremi had served on the National Union of Footballers of Cameroon but has now been handed a lengthy ban following a dispute with Eto’o. The incident took place at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2023 when he is said to have been involved with a member of Eto’o’s staff.
Reports claim Geremi had tried to enter the Cameroon dressing room following their win over Gambia before officials "forcibly removed" him, leading to a "tense" row. Eto'o would be irked by his behaviour which saw him removed from the dressing room.
A statement from the FeCafoot ethics committee reads: "We declare Geremi Sorel Njitap, the president of Synafoc, guilty of breaking the behaviour rules of our code of ethics. We sentence him to a ban from all forms of football activity for five years, and to a fine of ten million West African francs [£13,000]. He has ten days to submit a written appeal."
Geremi is expected to appeal the decision amid suggestions he could take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an attempt to reduce or remove his ban and fine. His assistant, Daniel Blaise Ngos, has also been hit with a two-year ban and issued a fine totalling £6,500.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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