Confederation of African Football, CAF, have slammed Samuel Eto’o with a fine for breaching the body’s extant code of ethics as a football administrator.
CAF and FIFA provisions bars all football administrators from brokering personal contracts with betting brands.
The former Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Barcelona forward came under scrutiny after football stakeholders in Cameroon came together to sue him for signing a deal with a sports betting company, 1XBet.
While details of the said contract with 1XBet remain unclear, the Cameroon football chief reportedly Sparks concerns among several football stakeholders with the deal.
The stakeholders charged him for violating professional ethics as president of the country’s Football Federation (FECAFOOT).
He was also accused of trying to use his position as the country’s football chief to influence match outcomes.
Reacting to the charges, CAF opened investigations on Eto’o in 2023 and have finally passed their verdict.
A report from CAF disciplinary panel confirmed the embattled football chief has been found guilty for misconduct for the ambassadorial deal with 1XBet. As a result, he has been slammed with a fine of £200,000.
A statement by CAF disciplinary panel to the effect of the penalty reads;
“He (Eto’o) has seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship.”
Reacting to the fine, Eto’o’s legal defense team insist their client is innocent, adding that they will appeal the verdict.
Apart from the controversial ambassadorial contract with 1XBet, Eto’o also came under wires for match-fixing. In July 2023, football stakeholders also raised concerns about Eto’o’s alleged influence in the promotion of a Cameroonian Football Club, Victoria United Football Club, to the country’s elite division.
Reports claimed the four-time African Footballer of the Year had a phone conversation with the club’s president, Valentine Nkwain, to influence results and facilitate the club’s promotion to the country’s top tier.
The allegations were also included in the petition to CAF. However, the African football’s governing body has ruled that there is not enough evidence to support the match-fixing claim.
Despite coming out unscathed on the match-fixing allegations, Cameroonian outlets reports that Cameroon football stakeholders are not retreating on the battle line against Eto’o. They want him to be banned for life for the alleged abuses.
Samuel Eto’o rose to prominence in football following his illustrious and legendary career.
He was elected FECAFOOT president in 2021 after a legendary club and international career which spanned 22 years from 1997 to 2019, covering over 13 clubs.
His career peaked at Barcelona, where he won all club trophies with the club. At the international scene, he won 118 caps with Cameroon national team, scoring 56 goals. He is one of the most decorated African footballer, having won African Player of The Year Award four times.
Eto’s administrative career in Cameroonian football has been a stark contrast and a world away from his heroic playing career. Since he assumed the reins as Cameroon football chief, his tenure has been mired with one scandal or the other, including conflicts and clashes with football stakeholders.
Recently, we shared a report of the 43-year-old confronting other football chiefs in the country during FECAFOOT meeting in Yaounde.
