Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), has claimed a significant legal victory after an appeal overturned a $200,000 fine imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for an ethics breach related to a betting company sponsorship.
The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker, a four-time African Footballer of the Year, was initially found to have “seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship” by CAF’s disciplinary panel in July 2024.
The ruling stemmed from his contract as an ambassador for 1XBET, a betting company that sponsors the top two divisions of men’s professional football in Cameroon and both the men’s and women’s national teams.
This contradicted FIFA regulations prohibiting individuals bound by its code from involvement in football-related betting.
However, Eto’o’s legal team has successfully argued that Caf’s disciplinary panel lacked the jurisdiction to rule on the case, asserting that only Caf’s independent ethics committee possesses such authority.
“The appeal committee took into account the fact that Fecafoot is carrying out its own ethics investigation,” his lawyers stated in a letter posted on social media. CAF has declined to comment on the appeal’s outcome.
The victory comes at a crucial time for Eto’o, whose tenure as Fecafoot president, since his election in December 2021, has been marred by controversy.
The initial CAF investigation, launched in August 2023 following complaints from Cameroonian football stakeholders, also included allegations of match-fixing, which were ultimately dismissed due to “insufficient proof.”
Adding to the complexity, Eto’o is reportedly appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to ensure his eligibility to run for a position on CAF’s executive committee in elections scheduled for next month.
While current Caf president Patrice Motsepe is set to run unopposed for a second term, Eto’o’s potential election to a prominent role within the organization could significantly reshape the African football landscape.
His time as Fecafoot president has been marked by turbulent events. Last September, he received a six-match ban from attending Cameroon games.
More recently, his handling of the appointment of Indomitable Lions head coach Marc Brys drew fierce criticism, with one former international teammate labeling him a “dictator.”
Notably, in May 2024, Cameroon reinstated Brys as boss after a prior dispute, with Eto’o issuing an apology.
