Lawyers for Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), announced that a ruling leading to his $200,000 fine for breaching ethics has been quashed following an appeal. The Confederation of African Football (Caf) had previously imposed the fine after Eto’o was found guilty of violating ethics guidelines, particularly for his involvement with the betting company 1XBET.
The investigation into Eto’o’s actions began in August 2023, when Caf received “written statements from several Cameroonian football stakeholders” that raised concerns about his conduct. The disciplinary panel of African football’s governing body ruled in July 2023 that Eto’o, 43, had seriously violated principles of ethics, integrity, and sportsmanship by signing an ambassadorial contract with 1XBET, a company that operates in the sports betting industry.
1XBET is a major sponsor in Cameroon, backing both the top two divisions of men’s professional football and the national men’s and women’s teams. However, Fifa regulations, which govern the broader scope of global football, prohibit individuals bound by its code of ethics from having any involvement with companies engaged in betting related to football activities.
Despite the ruling, Eto’o’s legal team successfully argued that Caf’s independent ethics committee holds sole jurisdiction over such matters. As a result, they contended that the initial disciplinary actions, including the hefty fine, were invalid, leading to the decision being overturned on appeal. The legal victory marks a significant development in the case, with Eto’o’s legal team asserting that Caf overstepped its authority.
While the appeal’s outcome has been welcomed by Eto’o and his supporters, Caf has yet to provide any formal comments regarding the appeal decision. It is unclear whether the governing body will challenge the ruling further, or if additional measures will be taken to address similar ethical concerns in the future.
This case highlights the increasing scrutiny of football figures’ involvement with betting companies, especially as such relationships often spark debates about the integrity of the sport. Eto’o, who has enjoyed a distinguished career both as a player and now as a football administrator, remains at the center of ongoing discussions about the intersection of football governance and commercial interests.
As the ruling on Eto’o’s fine is reversed, the wider football community is closely watching whether this decision could set a precedent for similar cases in African football and beyond.
