The Cameroon international thrust his head into Cesar's chest in retaliation to a sly punch from the centre-back seven minutes before half-time of the Serie A game in Verona.

Serie A sporting judge, Giampaolo Tosel said in a statement that Eto'o's head butt to the chest of defender Cesar, which was not seen by the match officials but picked up on television replays, was "premeditated" and constituted "violent conduct". Inter's Cameroonian top scorer was also fined €30 000.

The incident was similar to the infamous head butt France's Zinedine Zidane committed on Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final.

However, even if Inter win Wednesday's Champions League game against Twente Enschede, when Eto'o is available, their next three domestic games have suddenly become even more complicated without the league's joint topscorer and Inter's only standout performer in a so far lucklustre campaign.

Rafeal Benitez, Inter’s manager, tried to defend Eto'o after the game by saying he had been provoked by Cesar, who hit out at the striker earlier in the match but has escaped punishment.
Quoted by Goal.com, Cesar mentioned that Eto’o failed to apologise to him after the act.

"Everyone saw the headbutt, and no one can deny it. Eto'o was probably angry but these are things that can happen in football. Samuel Eto'o never apologized for headbutting me during our match at the weekend. I saw that they (Inter) tried to get out of this difficult moment, but in front of them was a determined Chievo outfit that wanted to win.”