Cameroon clubs call for Eto'o’s exit

FECAFOOT President Samuel Eto'o with the president of the electoral commission Gilbert Schlick shortly after his election in Yaoundé on December 11, 2021 | Photo Credit: Daniel Beloumou Olomo (AFP)

FOOTBALL Cameroon clubs call for Eto'o’s exit

Shafic Kiyaga • 16:33 - 12.07.2023

The ACFAC is not alone in its demands, appealing to Cameroon's sports minister and even considering reaching out to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Cameroon's Amateur Clubs' Association (ACFAC) has urged football legend Samuel Eto'o to resign from his position as president of the country's football federation, FECAFOOT.

This call follows a vote where 11 out of 12 of ACFAC's members supported the proposition, citing severe irregularities within the football governing body.

Eto'o, a four-time African Footballer of the Year and acclaimed veteran of numerous top-tier European clubs, has been asked to step down "if he still loves Cameroonian football, as he has always claimed."

The ACFAC is not alone in its demands, appealing to Cameroon's sports minister and even considering reaching out to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The association has levelled several allegations at Eto'o and his administration.

A critical concern is the unilateral extension of the FECAFOOT president's term from four to seven years, an act deemed as anti-statutory and illegal by ACFAC.

The absence of newly adopted statutes since August 2021 has also been underlined.

Further, Eto'o's decision to assume an ambassadorial role with a sports betting company is seen as a potential breach of both FIFA and FECAFOOT regulations.

FIFA's code forbids anyone within its sphere from involvement in betting and gambling activities linked to football. Violations of this code could invite sanctions ranging from fines to bans.

Top-flight Cameroonian club UMS de Loum has already sought an investigation into the matter from both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Adding fuel to the fire, FECAFOOT, under Eto'o's leadership, has partnered with the same betting company to sponsor Cameroon's men's and women's international teams and the country's top two football divisions.

FECAFOOT claims the deal adheres to ethical codes and reflects Eto'o's ambition to modernize Cameroonian football.

However, ACFAC has further claimed the existence of manipulative practices within FECAFOOT, where certain individuals allegedly skew match outcomes for successful betting.

The group also raised concerns about the arbitrary exclusion of high-ranking members critical of Eto'o's management style and the continued lack of financial transparency within the organization.

Last month's revelation that Cameroon would not send an U-20 team to a regional tournament in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to lack of funds added credence to these concerns.

ACFAC, in a statement, expressed its alarm that FECAFOOT may be nearing bankruptcy and called for immediate action to save the remnants of Cameroonian football.

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