Cameroon: Samuel Eto'o's lawyer hits back at CAF
Accused by figures in Cameroonian football, FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto'o responds to CAF.
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Cameroonian football is under strain, with a tense stand-off between figures in the game and the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation. The row has now reached CAF headquarters. The governing body of African football announced on Wednesday 9 August that it is opening an investigation into Samuel Eto’o over "allegations of inappropriate conduct". Complaints from several stakeholders in Cameroonian football landed on CAF's desk, prompting the body to open the inquiry. "While the allegations appear serious on their face, Mr Samuel Eto'o is presumed innocent until a competent judicial body concludes otherwise", CAF was quick to point out.
https://twitter.com/cfootcameroun/status/1689355215613394944?s=20
Samuel Eto’o responds
Samuel Eto’o's response was swift. In a statement published on Thursday 10 August, the lawyer of the legend of the Indomitable Lions criticised CAF's stance. "This hasty position from CAF is all the more surprising in that it already refers to allegations that appear serious on their face, even though to date Mr Eto’o Fils has not been notified of any of the accusations allegedly made against him", the statement reads. The FECAFOOT president's lawyer also condemned a "communication that is both pernicious and toxic".
In the statement, Samuel Eto’o reassures Cameroonian football figures that he is committed to carrying out the reform programme he began on 11 December 2021. He adds that those in Cameroonian football who see their personal interests threatened are behind these accusations: "At a time when the hard work he is doing with his executive committee is starting to bear fruit, as shown by the national U20 team's recent triumph at the Francophonie Games, he calls on the great family of Cameroonian football to stay resilient in the face of repeated and unjustified attacks from enemies of football who intend to hold our national sport hostage so they can keep serving their own selfish personal interests".