Samuel Eto’o accused of match-fixing in Cameroon

Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o, who currently serves as the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) has been accused of match-fixing in relation to second division club Victoria United.

Camfoot reported that Eto’o has been accused of promising to secure Victoria United’s promotion by orchestrating the manipulation of matches. Consequently, Victoria United obtained promotion to a higher division, with the federation later ruling that the runner-up of the previous season, Stade de Bertoua, was deemed ineligible.

There are recordings of Eto’o discussing the plan with Valentine Gwain, the President of Victoria United. He was heard promising to assist the team’s promotion by influencing the actions of referees, this has raised questions regarding the integrity of the promotion process.

The former Barcelona star was heard saying;

“There are things we can do, but you have to be very discreet brother. I’m out of the country. I haven’t even had time to go home and work with the president because I can’t call the refs directly and tell them to be careful. But I can work with the president [of the referees].

“Don’t worry, we’ll give you your three points and we will suspend the referee. But let me at least come back to Cameroon. 

“I arrive on the 3rd (of January) in the evening. So we’ll meet in the office on the 4th. But I’m going to discard this referee anyway. I’m going to disqualify him. 

“On the 4th we’ll meet in the office, and that’s when I’ll summon the president of the referees. It’s better that we meet discreetly. Maybe you organise two days, you invite your wives to Yaounde, we see each other discreetly, we talk and you leave. 

“It’s important to have a good relationship with the president of the league. He has the power. And from there, he, with his commissions, will be able to suspend even the president of the referees.”

The match-fixing allegation against Samuel Eto’o is coming days after he was also accused by former Cameroon FA vice-president, Henry Njalla Quan, accused Eto’o of ruining the international career of Man United goalie Onana.