Eric Akoto Cleared of Drug Charges by Austrian Court
By BBC Africa Sport
Former Togo international Eric Akoto has been cleared of drug trafficking charges by an Austrian court and released from custody, ending a month-long legal ordeal for the ex-footballer.
The 34-year-old, who was part of Togo’s historic squad at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, was arrested earlier this month alongside several other individuals in Austria. Authorities had initially suspected Akoto of involvement in marijuana trafficking, but the court ultimately found no evidence to support the allegations against him.
Appearing in court on Monday with his co-accused, Akoto was formally acquitted and walked free, bringing relief to his supporters and former teammates.
According to legal sources close to the case, some of Akoto’s co-defendants confessed to their roles in the drug operation. However, Akoto consistently denied any involvement, maintaining his innocence from the outset. The court ruling confirmed that he had no demonstrable link to the offences committed.
Born in Ghana, Eric Akoto began his footballing career with Liberty Professionals before moving to Austria in 1998, where he spent much of his playing career. He later acquired Togolese nationality and earned over 50 caps for the Togo national team, featuring in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and playing a key role during Togo’s qualification for their first and only World Cup appearance in Germany.
The verdict ends a troubling chapter in the former defender’s post-football life. While Akoto has kept a relatively low profile since retiring from professional football, this high-profile case brought his name back into the spotlight—albeit under difficult circumstances.
Akoto is now expected to remain in Austria, though it is unclear whether he plans to pursue legal action for wrongful arrest or rebuild his life outside the public eye.
For many fans of African football, Akoto’s acquittal marks a welcome turn in a story that had threatened to tarnish the legacy of a player who once represented his nation on the sport’s biggest stage.
