ROME -- Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o was banned for three matches Tuesday for head butting Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar.

Eto'o was not ejected from Sunday's match, a 2-1 Chievo win, because referee Gianluca Rocchi did not see the incident. TV replays provided the evidence to suspend and fine the Cameroon striker.

The incident was reminiscent of the 2006 FIFA World Cup final, when France's Zinedine Zidane head butted Italy's Marco Materazzi. In addition to the ban, Eto'o was fined approximately $40,000.

Eto'o and Cesar clashed late in the first half, when a challenge by the Chievo man resulted in a confrontation that ended with Eto'o head butting Cesar.

The 29-year-old Eto'o has 18 goals in all competitions for Inter, which is now nine points behind Serie A leaders AC Milan.