Gael Ondoua is a part of the Cameroon squad on the match in Qatar
Cameroon midfielder Gael Ondoua has stated he acquired insults after enjoying with boots that includes the Russian flag on the World Cup, however added that he wouldn’t be on the match have been it not for Russia.
Ondoua, 27, was born in Cameroon but additionally has Russian citizenship. He spent a lot of his youth in Russia, rising from the soccer academy at Lokomotiv Moscow earlier than enjoying for CSKA Moscow and Anzhi Makhachkala.
He’s at the moment at German membership Hannover 96, however his Cameroonian-Russian background is mirrored within the boots by which he performs, which have photos of each nations’ flags.
That truth got here to the eye of the media after Cameroon’s first World Cup sport in Qatar, with sections of the Norwegian press claiming that FIFA ought to take motion towards Ondoua, contemplating the battle in Ukraine and the ban imposed on Russian soccer groups.
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After showing as a second-half substitute for Cameroon’s thrilling Three-Three draw with Serbia on Monday, Ondoua spoke in regards to the response to his flag gesture.
“Everybody is aware of that I’ve been enjoying like this for ten years – with two flags on my boots,” Ondoua stated, as quoted by TASS.
“Why didn’t they discover earlier than and began making noise now? After the primary sport, seeing my boots, there have been so many nasty issues written to me from all around the world, however I gained’t change something in my life. Due to Russia, I’m right here.”
Chatting with Norwegian outlet NRK final week, a FIFA official stated there was no cause to intervene concerning the Cameroon star’s boots.
Ondoua was handed a Russian shirt by a member of the group at full time at Al Janoub Stadium on Monday, which he carried with him to the locker room.
Serbian followers have been additionally seen displaying help for Russia, with one displaying a 50-50 flag that includes half the Russian tricolor and the opposite half with the Serbian flag.
Monday’s draw means Serbia and Cameroon each have to win their remaining Group G matches to face any likelihood of reaching the knockout phases in Qatar.
Serbia play Switzerland on Friday, whereas Cameroon meet five-time champions Brazil.
