The Confederation of African Football has officially lifted the sanctions that it had placed on Cameroonian football icon Samuel Eto'o.
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African football's governing body has been forced to exonerate Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Eto'o of all the charges placed against him last year.
The decision comes after the former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker appealed CAF's decision to fine him $200,000 (R3.7 million) to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, after he was alleged to have conducted himself unethically by becoming an ambassador for 1xBet.
It is believed that this decision prevented him from running to be an executive member of CAF when elections take place next month, but now FECAFOOT has released a statement affirming CAS's stance to rescind the charges levelled against the 43-year-old.
The statement reads:
"The legal representatives of Mr. Samuel Eto'o, Mr Florian Mbayen Hegba, Mr Antoine Vey, Mr. Bonny Elame, together with the Director of Legal Affairs at FECAFOOT, Mr. Heles Bidjocka, take due note, with satisfaction, of the decision rendered on February 19, 2025, by the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in case DC23137.
"Following a comprehensive legal review, the Appeals Committee held that the CAF Disciplinary Committee lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate matters of an ethical nature, which fall within the purview of an independent Ethics Committee. Consequently, the decision of 27, 2024, which imposed a fine of USD 200,000 on Mr. Eto'o, has been quashed in its entirety.
"Furthermore, the Appeals Committee acknowledged the existence of pending proceedings before the FECAFOOT Ethics Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In accordance with the principle of lis pendens, it determined that CAF's disciplinary bodies were precluded from assuming jurisdiction over the same subject matter.
"This decision, if further confirmation were ever needed, unequivocally reaffirms the position steadfastly defended by Mr. Eto'o since the inception of this matter. It brings an end to proceedings initiated by a body lacking jurisdiction, which had not even afforded him the fundamental right to be heard during a preliminary investigation.
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"Through its ruling, the Appeals Committee fully restores Mr. Eto'o's rights, thereby enabling him to continue discharging his duties as President of FECAFOOT with serenity and unwavering determination."
