Samuel Eto’o escapes $200,000 fine after successful appeal

Samuel Eto’o will no longer be required to pay a $200,000 fine imposed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after successfully appealing the decision.

The former Cameroon international, who currently serves as president of the country’s football federation (FECAFOOT), had initially been penalized for “violating the principles of ethics, integrity, and fair play” after signing a contract with sports betting company 1XBET in July 2024.

Eto’o’s legal team confirmed the development in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the conflict of interest appeal had been upheld, effectively overturning the fine.

At the time of the ruling, CAF had also been investigating Eto’o for alleged match-fixing, but the governing body concluded that there was insufficient evidence to press charges.

Despite this, the former Inter Milan and Barcelona striker has been barred from attending Cameroon national team matches since September 2024, with the suspension set to last until March 2025.

Since assuming the FECAFOOT presidency in 2021, Eto’o has been at the center of multiple controversies, including allegations of mismanagement and conflicts of interest.

However, despite the off-field scandals, he continues to hold his position as the head of Cameroon’s football governing body.