Match-fixing: in Cameroon, silence from FIFA and CAF sparks outrage
Cameroon: FIFA and CAF are called upon to act. Some officials are surprised not to hear from them over the match-fixing allegations.
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Several influential figures in Cameroonian football have published an open letter addressed to Gianni Infantino and Patrice Motsepe, presidents of FIFA and CAF respectively. The signatories include General Pierre Semengue, president of the Professional Football League and a close ally of President Paul Biya, as well as Guibaï Gatama, a member of the Executive Committee, and Henri Njalla Quan, the resigning 4th vice-president of Fécafoot.
The letter, titled "An ethic for Africa, an ethic for Europe?", raises serious concerns about the governance of the Cameroonian Football Federation under the presidency of Samuel Eto'o.
The Rubiales affair in Spain: a swift reaction from FIFA
The letter first refers to a recent incident in Spain, where the president of the Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, was forced to resign after a scandal involving a player at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. On 20 August, after La Roja's world title win, the head of Spanish football grabbed Jennifer Hermoso's head with both hands and kissed her on the lips without warning. FIFA reacted swiftly by suspending Rubiales for 90 days, demonstrating its firmness on sporting ethics.
The Eto'o case in Cameroon: silence from FIFA and CAF
However, the signatories of the letter are surprised by the silence of FIFA and CAF over cases they consider more serious within the Cameroonian Federation. In June 2022, Samuel Eto'o, the body's president, was given a prison sentence in Spain for tax fraud. Following that conviction, and despite certain provisions of the Fécafoot statutes, "Mr Samuel Eto'o has refused to leave his post and continues to impose himself illegally as president of Fécafoot", they write.
Another date, another incident: in December 2022, the Fécafoot president was filmed violently assaulting a young Algerian YouTuber. Later, on 26 May 2023, the former Cameroon captain signed, they say, "in flagrant violation of the provisions of Article 27 of the FIFA Code of Ethics", a personal sponsorship deal with a betting company.
The signatories of the open letter also refer to allegations of suspected match-fixing involving Samuel Eto'o, which came to light on 18 July 2023. CAF opened an investigation into these allegations in August 2023, but no progress has been reported since. FIFA, for its part, has remained silent despite numerous complaints and reminders from figures in Cameroonian football.
A call for ethics in the face of "double standards"
The open letter calls on the presidents of FIFA and CAF over these "double standards" and the need to respond to scandals that undermine public confidence in sporting ethics and the integrity of football competitions in Cameroon. The signatories point to the apparent inaction of FIFA and CAF compared with similar situations in Europe, and call for fair, non-discriminatory treatment of ethics breaches, wherever they occur.
The letter to Infantino and Motsepe ends with a series of questions: Could one imagine FIFA and UEFA staying silent if the president of a European football federation were suspected of match-fixing, with audio recordings as evidence? Could one imagine FIFA and UEFA staying silent if the president of a European football federation had signed a personal ambassador contract with a betting operator? The responses of the two leaders are still awaited.
The Editorial Team