Samuel Eto’o charged with match-fixing in Cameroon after he ‘helped Second Division champions Victoria United gain promotion by influencing referees last season’
- Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o is accused of match fixing
- Eto’o, the president of Fecafoot, is said to have promised to promote Victoria United
- In recordings, Eto’o is said to have stated that he would help manipulate referees
Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o has been accused of match fixing in Cameroon.
According to comb footEto’o, the president of the Cameroon Football Association (Fecafoot), is said to have promised to promote second division club Victoria United by rigging matches.
Victoria United were eventually promoted, with the federation ruling last season’s runners-up Stade de Bertoua ineligible.
Footage reportedly emerged of Eto’o telling Victoria’s president Valentine Gwain that he would help promote the team by manipulating referees.
Eto’o said, “There are things we can do, but you must be very discreet, brother.
Former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o is accused of match fixing in Cameroon
“I haven’t even had time to go home yet. I’m out, mate. I haven’t had time to go home and work with the President (of the Cameroon Referee Association) because I can’t call the referees directly and tell them to be careful. But I can work with the president.”
The talk is believed to have taken place after Victoria lost 1-0 in December 2022, with Gwain interrupting the match to complain about the referee.
Eto’o was reportedly heard saying, ‘Opopo (Victoria United’s nickname) has to go to the first division. This is our goal (…) This is our Federation. Victoria United goes up.
‘Keep calm, we’ll award you the three points and suspend the referee. But at least let me go back to Cameroon. He arrived on the 3rd (January) at night. So we’ll see you at the office on the 4th. Anyway, I’m going to exclude and disqualify this referee.”
Eto’o went on to explain the importance of having a good relationship with the league’s president.
He said, ‘He has the power. From there, he and his committees will even be able to suspend the chairman of the referees.
“Our club, Opopo, has to go to the first division, that’s our goal.”
Eto’o, who also played for Inter Milan and Chelsea, scored 56 goals in 114 caps for Cameroon.
He was elected president of Fecafoot in December 2021.
Eto’o reportedly told Victoria United he would help them get promoted to the top flight
In recordings, Eto’o is said to have expressed the importance of a good relationship with the president of the league
During his spell at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009, Eto’o scored 130 goals in 199 appearances