Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o has been slammed by the local Cameroon media.
The Independent reports Eto'o has been criticised by local media for "treason" after being at the centre of strike action by their World Cup squad at the weekend.
Cameroon open their World Cup today against Mexico.
One newspaper editorial accused the four-time African Footballer of the Year and his team-mates of "high treason" as the fall-out from their delayed departure to the tournament continued.
A strike by the World Cup-bound squad over money meant their expensively chartered airline took off for Brazil almost 24 hours late as the players attempted to squeeze more appearance money out of their federation. But what has really rankled with the fans and media was their refusal to receive a symbolic flag from prime minister Philémon Yang at the end of their last warm-up international against Moldova in Yaoundé last Saturday.
Their German coach Volker Finke accepted it on their behalf.
"We must now ask: which country do Eto'o and his comrades represent if they go to Brazil having refused to accept this country's most precious symbol, its flag?" asked the daily Mutations newspaper.
"The flag is a symbol of the nation. We can blame those in power [for our problems], but insulting the national anthem or trampling the flag is a sacrilege."
