Alioum Sidi rejects Samuel Eto'o's match influence accusations

Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), has accused an unnamed former military referee of attempting to influence matches involving Cameroon's national teams. In a video released on September 2, 2026, Eto'o alleged that these actions were intended to harm Cameroon's interests, specifically citing matches during the last men's Africa Cup of Nations and various women's matches.

Alioum Sidi, president of the Cameroonian Association of Football Referees (ACAF), has identified himself as the individual targeted by these remarks. In a statement released on September 3, Sidi firmly rejected the accusations, describing them as an attack on his honor, professional integrity, and patriotism.

Sidi, who has a 20-year career including officiating at six World Cups and nine Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, has demanded that Eto'o provide objective evidence to support the allegations. He noted that ACAF is currently involved in a legal dispute with FECAFOOT at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and warned that he reserves the right to pursue legal action for defamation if proof is not provided.