Former Cameroon star and FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o is accused of directing more than $665,000 in payments linked to a 2023 friendly against Russia into a personal bank account.
Yaoundé, Cameroon (Running Africa) — Cameroon football legend and federation president Samuel Eto’o is facing allegations over the handling of €567,570 ($665,000) linked to the national team’s 2023 friendly against Russia, claims he denies.
Documents reviewed by The Times reportedly contain instructions for two payments — €455,056 and €112,514 — to be transferred to an account in Eto’o’s name at Qatar National Bank in Doha.
The payments were connected to Cameroon’s friendly against Russia in Moscow in October 2023.
Former FECAFOOT Officials Question Cameroon-Russia Payments
Former executives of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) allege they have been unable to establish that the €567,570 was subsequently transferred to the federation or recorded in its accounts.
The allegations do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing by Eto’o.
The former officials also say complaints concerning the matter were submitted to FIFA’s ethics committee more than a year ago, but that they have received no substantive update.
Eto’o has denied the allegations surrounding the payments.
FECAFOOT has not publicly responded to the latest claims, while FIFA says its judicial bodies operate independently.
The world football governing body has also said its president, Gianni Infantino, has no influence over the handling of ethics investigations.
FECAFOOT President Faces Renewed Scrutiny
The allegations bring renewed attention to Eto’o’s leadership of Cameroonian football.
The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker has served as FECAFOOT president since 2021 and also sits on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee.
One of Africa’s most decorated footballers, Eto’o has remained an influential figure in the sport since moving into football administration.
Eto’o Has Previously Faced Football Disciplinary Action
Eto’o has faced separate disciplinary proceedings during his tenure at FECAFOOT.
In 2024, FIFA banned him from attending Cameroon national-team matches for six months following misconduct during the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.
A separate CAF disciplinary ruling against Eto’o was later overturned.
The latest allegations concern the handling of money associated with the 2023 Russia friendly and remain disputed. No finding of wrongdoing regarding the €567,570 described in the claims is established by the information presented here.
