Samuel Eto’o faces criminal charges amid allegations of corruption

Former Barcelona forward and Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o is in the middle of a legal storm as he faces allegations of corruption and electoral fraud.

Eto’o will have to defend himself in court after a coalition of Cameroonian football officials, led by international lawyer Emmanuel Nsahlai, has launched a series of legal actions at domestic and international levels against the former Chelsea star presidency of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAfoot).

These complaints allege widespread corruption, electoral fraud and conflicts of interest, casting a dark shadow over his administrative career and putting the integrity of Cameroonian football at risk.

Samuel Etoo of Cameroon arrives prior to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 match between Australia and Cameroon (Photo by Ricardo Moreira – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

According to lawyer Nsahlai, the legal battle is not an attack on the former star’s legacy as a player, noting that that Eto’o’s playing career is “untouchable.”

However, the legal battle is a focused effort to address deep-seated governance failures within FECAfoot. The complaints paint a troubling picture of an administration fraught with ethical issues. This includes a previously reported 22-month suspended prison sentence in Spain for tax fraud in 2022, a six-month ban from attending matches imposed by FIFA for misconduct, and a recent U.S. probe into wire fraud related to missing funds.

Eto’o is accused of alleged corruption and match-fixing in Cameroon’s second division, a conflict of interest with the betting company 1xBet, and the alleged misappropriation of approximately $1.5 million from international friendlies.

The complaints also highlight the suppression of dissent, pointing to the controversial 10-year suspension of director Guibai Gatama, a vocal opponent of Eto’o.

The legal actions have been submitted to Cameroon’s Ministry of Sport, the FIFA Ethics Committee, and Confederation of African Football (CAF), which are all now faced with the decision of whether to investigate further. The requests call for a review of FECAfoot’s statutes and the provisional suspension of Eto’o from his duties.

As Cameroon prepares for the 2026 World Cup, the outcome of these investigations will not only determine Eto’o’s future as a football administrator but also could have significant implications over governance of the sport in the region.