Samuel Eto'o greets Sampdoria fans following a Serie A match between Sampdoria and Palermo, held in Genoa, Italy, on Sunday, January 25, 2015 -
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Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto’o, the head of football in Cameroon, has dismissed allegations of embezzlement, labeling the claims as unfounded smear tactics.
The allegations involve over 560,000 euros reportedly received from Russia following a friendly match between the two nations in October 2023.
As reported by The Times, the funds were deposited into a personal account belonging to Eto’o, who also serves as the president of Cameroon’s football federation. Former officials of the federation claim they are unable to locate any financial or banking documentation indicating that the money was subsequently transferred to the federation.
These officials allegedly submitted the issue to FIFA’s ethics committee over a year ago but have not received any feedback. FIFA has refuted any claims of political interference in its judicial processes, while Cameroon’s football federation has refrained from commenting.
Eto’o has firmly rejected the allegations. In a statement shared on Facebook, he stated that the claims surfaced after he advocated for the interests of Cameroon and Africa.
He accused his detractors of perpetuating the same narratives through journalists he claims are biased towards them. Eto’o indicated that the criticisms exemplified the campaign he has been opposing.
The former Barcelona star also expressed that Africans should have the freedom to voice their opinions, uphold their beliefs, and not remain silent. He emphasized that African football has the right to protect its interests and make autonomous choices.
