Samuel Eto'o accused of mishandling €567,000 in federation funds

Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), is facing allegations of financial mismanagement involving over 567,000 euros. According to reports from The Times, former federation officials claim that funds from a friendly match between Cameroon and Russia, held in Moscow in October 2023, were transferred to Eto'o's personal account at Qatar National Bank in Doha rather than to the official FECAFOOT accounts.

The disputed amount consists of two transfers: 455,056 euros and 112,514 euros. Former executives, including Guibai Gatama and Henry Njalla Quan Junior, have stated that there is no accounting evidence showing these funds were ever returned to the federation. They claim to have filed complaints with the FIFA Ethics Committee over a year ago but have received no response.

Eto'o has vigorously denied the accusations, characterizing them as a coordinated media attack intended to silence his advocacy for African football interests. He has suggested the scrutiny is a reaction to his public support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino. While the allegations remain unproven, they have raised significant questions regarding governance and transparency within Cameroonian football administration.