Samuel Eto'o, the football icon and former FC Barcelona and Chelsea striker, is currently under investigation by Cameroonian police over allegations of involvement in a match-fixing scandal. Since December 2021, Eto'o has held the position of president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot). The accusations revolve around the alleged rigging of matches in Cameroon's second division.
The initial allegations against Eto'o, who is 42 years old, surfaced in July of this year. The controversy ignited when a recording was leaked, capturing a conversation between Eto'o and Victoria United FC president, Valentine Nkwain, also referred to as Bobdidy. In the said conversation, Eto'o is purported to have promised to elevate Victoria FC from the second division to Cameroon's premier league by manipulating match outcomes. French media outlet Camfoot reported on these allegations, highlighting a segment of the conversation where Eto'o is heard saying, "This is our federation. Victoria United will go up."
In a twist to the tale, Victoria FC did indeed secure promotion to Elite One, the pinnacle of league football in Cameroon.
The police have initiated an investigation into the alleged "abuse of authority and corruption." Preliminary stages of the investigation have seen the police interview several pivotal witnesses linked to the case. The scope of the investigation is expected to widen, potentially encompassing around 40 individuals and delving into broader allegations of corruption within Fecafoot during Eto'o's leadership.
Both Eto'o and Nkwain have refuted the allegations. Nkwain, in particular, has contested the authenticity of the voice in the leaked recording. Eto'o, in a subsequent interview, clarified that he was merely conversing with a friend who had vested interests in football and aspired to elevate his club's status in Cameroon.
This isn't the first time Eto'o has been embroiled in controversy. A faction of Cameroon's football officials had previously implored FIFA to act against Eto'o following a series of public altercations, including a reported confrontation with an Algerian journalist during the World Cup in Qatar.
Eto'o's illustrious football career has seen him win the African Player of the Year award four times. He began his journey with Real Madrid's academy and later moved to FC Barcelona, where he clinched two Champions League titles and three La Liga trophies. Eto'o also had a successful stint with Inter Milan and played for Chelsea for a season.
