The President of Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o, has been cleared of charges of unethical conduct by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a press release on Wednesday February 19, 2025, one of Eto’o’s lawyer Florian Mbayen Hebga disclosed that a CAF appeals jury has overturned a ruling by its Disciplinary Committee that had found the Cameroonian legend guilty of unethical behaviour.
The FECAFOOT president was fined 200,000 dollars on June 27, 2024 for using his status as FA president to strike a deal with a betting company.
However, the 43-year-old was not satisfied with the ruling and vowed to fight back, prompting an appeal before a CAF appeals committee.
After due consideration, the Appeals Committee declared the Disciplinary Committee incompetent to handle ethical issues, saying it was the duty of an independent ethics committee.
Besides, the case is already being examined by a FECAFOOT ethics committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. His lawyers say Eto’o was not duly interrogated before the decision was taken against him.
“Through this ruling, the Appeals Committee fully restores Eto’o’s rights, thereby enabling him to continue discharging his duties as president of FECAFOOT with serenity and unwavering determination,” the communique issued from Paris, France, reads in part.
Eto’o thanks God for protection
Upon receiving the news, Eto’o quickly took to the social media praising his legal team and thanking God Almighty with a biblical verse.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me,” Eto’o quoted Psalm 23:4 as he shared the communique on his official Facebook page with the message, “Thank you to my lawyers”.
The FECAFOOT president added in his social outing that “deception will only last for a short while”.
What the ruling means for Eto’o
This is a huge achievement for the former striker and captain of the Indomitable Lions in his strive to participate in the CAF Executive Committee elections next month.
Initially disqualified by CAF for that breach of ethics and a ban for unsportsmanship behaviour, Eto’o had filed an appeal before Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Last week, the Lausanne-based institution had ordered CAF to reconsider his candidacy.
As it stands, CAF can cling only to one last straw, the six-month ban imposed on the FECAFOOT boss by World football governing body FIFA in November for improper protests to alleged poor refereeing in a game between Brazil and Cameroon at the 2024 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Columbia.
Eto’o’s candidacy at the elections is crucial in ensuring regional balance at CAF. He will be the unique candidate from the Central African Football Federations’ Union (UNIFFAC).
Former FECAFOOT boss and current Fourth Vice president of CAF, Seidou Mbombo Njoya was equally disqualified from the elections because he lacked the backing of his FA.
