Eto’o to appeal CAF fine of 200,000 USD

YAOUNDE, Cameroon | Xinhua | Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), intends to appeal the decision of the Disciplinary Commission of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that fined him 200,000 U.S. dollars for ethical breaches, his lawyers said on Friday.

CAF opened a formal inquiry into Eto’o’s conduct last year after receiving “written statements from several Cameroonian football stakeholders” accusing the four-time African Footballer of the Year of match-fixing and ethical breaches.

The commission announced on Thursday that it has not found sufficient evidence to pursue a charge related to allegations of match-fixing against Eto’o, but fined the former Barcelona star 200,000 U.S. dollars for “seriously violating the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship” of CAF by signing a contract to be an ambassador for betting company 1XBET.

“This decision is surprising in several respects. The jury believed it could rule on questions of ethics even though CAF has neither a code of ethics nor an ethics commission. In addition, the jury believed it could pass judgment even though the allegations are pending before other courts validly seized in total violation of the FIFA code of ethics,” Eto’o’s lawyers said in a statement following the decision.

“We announce the intention of Mr. Samuel Eto’o to appeal this decision to the CAF Appeal Jury,” the statement added.

Eto’o was elected to head FECAFOOT in 2021, but his leadership has stirred controversy in the central African nation following poor performances by national teams, suspicions of match-fixing and unfulfilled promises.

Last month, Eto’o said he had faced opposition and criticism since his election because of claims that he wants to run to be president of Cameroon, and stressed: “I am not a candidate for the presidency of Cameroon.” ■