FIFA has handed down a 6 million FCFA fine (roughly €2,600) to the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) and its president, Samuel Eto’o, following a ruling concerning unpaid salary arrears owed to local players. The fine stems from Fecafoot’s failure to enforce a previous decision to compensate Meuvungou Alexy, a player with Djiko FC of Bandjoun, for an unjust dismissal that occurred over a year ago.
The dispute traces back to June 2, 2023, when FIFA’s National Dispute Resolution Chamber (CNRL) ordered Djiko FC to pay 3.62 million FCFA (€5,546) to Meuvungou Alexy for his wrongful termination.
Despite the ruling, the club, which competes in Cameroon’s second division, has not fulfilled its financial obligations to the player.
As a result, Fecafoot, which holds the responsibility for ensuring adherence to FIFA’s rulings within the country, has been sanctioned.
The issue echoes similar problems encountered earlier this year when Fecafoot was reprimanded for its failure to enforce a payment order involving players Junior Godstine Folhe, Boris Oum Mananga, and Pierre Varèze Zang Ngayene. In those cases, the federation also failed to act against the offending clubs, leading to further penalties.
In response to these ongoing issues, the National Union of Cameroonian Footballers (Synafoc), led by former Indomitable Lions full-back Geremi Njitap, has long campaigned for the protection of players’ rights and the enforcement of fair pay.
Njitap, who is known for his “Salary Barometer” initiative, has been instrumental in pushing for accountability from both clubs and governing bodies like Fecafoot.
His efforts, supported by the International Federation of Professional Footballers’ Associations (FIFPro), have highlighted the persistent problem of unpaid wages for local players.
The recent sanction against Fecafoot underscores the ongoing challenges facing Cameroonian football, particularly in terms of ensuring that players receive the payments they are owed.
FIFA’s decision serves as a warning to both Fecafoot and the clubs under its jurisdiction, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rights of players and adhering to international rulings.
