Samuel Etoâ??o faces questions over alleged â?¬567,570 Russia payment

Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o is facing renewed questions over the handling of money paid by Russia for a 2023 international friendly involving the Indomitable Lions.

Documents seen by The Times reportedly show that payments totalling €567,570 were directed to a Qatar National Bank account held in Eto’o’s name instead of an official FECAFOOT account. The money related to Cameroon’s friendly against Russia in Moscow in October 2023.

Former FECAFOOT executives have questioned what happened to the funds and claim they cannot trace them in the federation’s accounts.

One former executive, Guibai Gatama, said there was no accounting or banking evidence showing that the money transferred to Eto’o’s personal account was subsequently transferred to FECAFOOT or recorded in its accounts.

The matter has also been raised with FIFA’s Ethics Committee. Former FECAFOOT officials say a complaint was submitted more than a year ago but that they have received no update on the case.

The allegations have drawn additional attention because of Eto’o’s close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Former federation officials have questioned whether that relationship has influenced the handling of complaints against the former Cameroon captain.

FIFA has rejected any suggestion of interference, insisting that its judicial bodies are independent.

Eto’o and FECAFOOT were contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of The Times’ report. The allegations have not been proven, and no ruling has been issued against Eto’o over the disputed payment.

The latest controversy adds to scrutiny surrounding Eto’o’s tenure as FECAFOOT president, which has previously included disciplinary proceedings over his conduct and other governance-related disputes.

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