Former Chelsea and Barcelona forward Samuel Eto’o is facing an investigation over alleged financial irregularities during his tenure as president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Trybal News reports.
The Association of Amateur Football Clubs of Cameroon (ACFAC) has opened a formal inquiry into the federation and Eto’o following reports of alleged financial misconduct involving funds connected to an international friendly between Cameroon and Russia in October 2023.
According to ACFAC, the Russian Football Union allegedly failed to comply with its contractual obligations to FECAFOOT by transferring approximately €567,000 ($655,000) into a bank account that was not registered to the Cameroonian federation.
The association has alleged that Eto’o unlawfully benefited from the payment and said it intends to pursue the matter through the Cameroonian judicial system.
ACFAC also announced plans to file a complaint in Russia against the Russian Football Union over the alleged breach of its agreement with FECAFOOT.
The allegations come amid continued scrutiny of Eto’o’s leadership of Cameroonian football. The former Cameroon international, who also played for Inter Milan and Barcelona, became FECAFOOT president in 2021.
Last month, Eto’o publicly backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, saying the FIFA chief had “committed no wrongdoing” despite criticism and calls for his resignation over a controversial World Cup commercialisation initiative.
The latest allegations remain subject to investigation, and no finding of wrongdoing against Eto’o has been established by a court.
