Patrice Motsepe, the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), recently addressed the ongoing investigation against Samuel Eto’o, the President of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), in an interview with France 24 television in Rabat, Morocco.
The investigation, which began in August following accusations of match-fixing and other wrongdoings, was initiated by various stakeholders in Cameroonian football. Eto’o had previously expressed his displeasure at not being given the opportunity to defend himself and threatened to take legal action against CAF for defamation in response to the allegations made against him back in March.
Motsepe stressed the importance of perspective in handling this issue. While acknowledging Eto’o’s remarkable career as a footballer and expressing pride in his accomplishments on the field, Motsepe also highlighted the significance of treating everyone equally under the law, regardless of their status.
“Samuel Eto’o will always be remembered as a talented football player whom we were incredibly proud of, but we must also consider the allegations made against him in the broader context of fairness and justice,” Motsepe stated. “As President of CAF, I believe it is essential to investigate all complaints, allegations, and accusations ethically and in accordance with global principles, including the presumption of innocence.”
Motsepe emphasized that no one, including himself, is above the law. He reiterated the importance of following the rules and regulations set by CAF and FIFA in making decisions related to such investigations.
“It is not just about football; it is about upholding the principles of fairness and justice across Africa and the world,” Motsepe concluded. “The decision-making process must be based on the evidence presented during the hearing and must adhere to the standards set by the governing bodies of football.”
