Samuel Eto’o investigated over match-fixing allegations by Cameroon police

Cameroonian authorities have reportedly initiated a match-fixing investigation against football legend Samuel Eto’o, known for his career with Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Everton. The 42-year-old stands accused of involvement in match-fixing activities within Cameroon’s second-tier football league. This accusation arose following the public release of a recording where Eto’o purportedly conversed with Valentine Nkwain, the president of Victoria United.

According to reports from Camfoot, Eto’o, who has held the position of president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) since December 2021, is alleged to have offered assistance to Victoria United, a second-division club, by manipulating match outcomes to facilitate their promotion.

Both Eto’o and Nkwain have denied these allegations, and it’s worth noting that Victoria United did, in fact, achieve promotion.

The Guardian has reported that Cameroonian police have launched an investigation into alleged ‘abuse of authority and corruption’ related to Samuel Eto’o. The investigation is said to have interviewed several key witnesses and is looking into broader allegations of corruption within Fecafoot during Eto’o’s tenure as its president. It is believed that this investigation could potentially involve up to 40 individuals.

In a recorded conversation, Eto’o allegedly told Valentine Nkwain, the president of Victoria United, “There are things we can do, but you have to be very discreet, brother. Don’t worry, we’ll give you your three points and we will suspend the referee. Opopo [Victoria’s nickname] must go up to the first division. This is our goal. This is our federation. Victoria United will go up.”

Eto’o previously told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dell Sport in June that he had been talking to a friend interested in football investment and reassured him that he would do everything possible to prevent any refereeing errors against his friend’s club.

In addition to this investigation, The Athletic reported that FIFA is facing pressure to remove Eto’o from his role, with a group of Cameroonian football officials, including the president of the professional football league of Cameroon and a former Fecafoot vice-president, urging FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe to take action. They questioned how Eto’o has been allowed to continue in his role, alleging that he has “illegally imposed himself on the FECAFOOT presidency” after a series of public incidents.

It’s worth noting that these developments are based on The Guardian’s report, and the situation may continue to evolve as investigations progress and more information becomes available.