Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation and legend of African football, was questioned on Tuesday June 25 in Cairo, Egypt by the disciplinary jury of CAF, the Confederation of African Football. The former FC Barcelona striker was notably heard on serious accusations of match-fixing in the Cameroonian championship brought against him by Cameroonian football players. The decision will only come after the jury’s deliberations, but Samuel Eto’o risks big.
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Samuel Eto’o risks no less than a lifetime suspension from any football-related activity, if his guilt were to be established, according to the regulations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). But it is not that simple: CAF must first succeed in proving unequivocally that Samuel Eto’o was really and personally involved in match manipulation operations. In this case: having favored the rise to the first division of the Victoria United club two years ago.
During the hearing on Tuesday June 25, finally behind closed doors, despite the express request of Samuel Eto’o who wanted a live broadcast, he was able to provide his elements of response to the accusation file put together by his main accuser, Henri Njalla Quan, a former vice-president of Fécafoot.
A recording of a telephone conversation to be authenticated
The latter, who was interviewed on Monday, a day before Samuel Eto’o, has in his suitcase evidence sent to the CAF, an element which can prove quite confusing. This is a recording of a telephone conversation (which remains to be authenticated) between Samuel Eto’o and the president of Victoria United. More or less explicit allusions are made between the two interlocutors on the imperative of moving this club up to the elite division.
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The match-fixing accusation is not the only one against Samuel Eto’o. There is this other procedure which had been initiated with the Fifa, this time by the same accuser, Henri Njalla Quan. It concerns a sponsorship contract initialed between Samuel Eto’o, already president of Fécafoot, and a sports betting company. The two procedures were finally joined into one… And Samuel Eto’o also had to answer for the relevance and merits of this contract which could raise ethical issues.