Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), will not pay the $200,000 fine imposed by the disciplinary panel of the Confederation of African Football in July 2024. According to the CAF disciplinary panel, this fine was due to a personal partnership between Samuel Eto’o and the sports betting company 1XBet, which the Disciplinary Jury condemned citing violation of the CAF’S rules and ethics. However, Samuel Eto’o and his legal team immediately challenged the verdict and on February 19, 2025, CAF Appeals Panel cleared him of any wrong.
Under pressure from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and FECAFOOT, the legal department of the Confederation of African Football was obliged to respond to the appeal lodged by Samuel Eto’o’s lawyers. As the sanction has been lifted, the President of FECAFOOT is eligible to run in the elections next March. As a result, CAF will therefore be obliged to review its lists of candidates for the executive committee and reinstate Samuel Eto’o’s file in the UNIFFAC zone.
Read the press release from Samuel Eto’o’s legal counsel below.
PRESS RELEASE
Ruling of the CAF Appeals Committee in Favor of Mr. Samuel Eto’o, President of FECAFOOT
The legal representatives of Mr. Samuel Eto’o, Me Florian MBAYEN HEGBA, Me Antoine VEY, Me Bonny ELAME, together with the Director of Legal Affairs of FECAFOOT, Mr. Heles BIDJOCKA, take due note, with satisfaction, of the decision rendered on February 19, 2025, by the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in case DC23137.
Following a comprehensive legal review, the Appeals Committee held that the CAF Disciplinary Committee lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate matters of an ethical nature, which fall exclusively within the purview of an independent Ethics Committee. Consequently, the decision of June 27, 2024, which imposed a fine of USD 200,000 on Mr. Eto’o, has been quashed in its entirety.
Furthermore, the Appeals Committee acknowledged the existence of pending proceedings before the FECAFOOT Ethics Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In accordance with the principle of lis pendens, it determined that CAF’s disciplinary bodies were precluded from assuming jurisdiction over the same subject matter.
This decision, if further confirmation were ever needed, unequivocally reaffirms the position steadfastly defended by Mr. Eto’o since the inception of this matter. It brings an end to proceedings initiated by a body lacking jurisdiction, which had not even afforded him the fundamental right to be heard during a preliminary investigation.
Through its ruling, the Appeals Committee fully restores Mr. Eto’o’s rights, thereby enabling him to continue discharging his duties as President of FECAFOOT with serenity and unwavering determination.