Joseph Antoine Bell, the former goalkeeper of Cameroon’s national team, has strongly denied accusations that he accepted a bribe to stop criticizing the Cameroonian football normalization committee. Bell, who is also a candidate for the presidency of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), took to social media to clear his name and announce his intention to pursue legal action against the website that made the allegations.
In a post shared on his Facebook page, which was also reported by Camfoot, Bell dismissed the corruption claims as baseless. He said, “Accusing corruption, without the slightest shred of evidence, the one who has always denounced it is a strategy worth its weight in macabre. It notably allows for the distraction of the discussion from the real issues.”
He continued to reject the accusations, stating, “These accusations are obviously false. What seems to be at stake is silencing me. But do I need to remind you that, as always, it’s a waste of time! Immersed in the mud, no matter how long, gold does not emerge tainted. Let’s not be distracted!”
Bell emphasized that the allegations were part of a wider attempt to divert attention from more important matters. He mocked the idea of waiting indefinitely for proof of the claims, including the alleged bank details or a copy of the check supposedly involved, calling it “useless for the court” as it does not address the real issues at hand.
Bell’s statement underscores his determination to clear his name and to remain focused on the challenges ahead as he vies for the presidency of FECAFOOT, a post that has become a point of contention amid the ongoing football governance issues in Cameroon.
