Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o implicates FIFA in fresh controversy

According to GOAL, FIFA is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations concerning Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o and his relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Former Cameroonian federation executives claim they submitted complaints to FIFA’s ethics committee over a €567,000 payment allegedly made by the Russian federation to Eto’o’s personal account in connection with a 2023 friendly between Russia and Cameroon.

The Times reportedly published an invoice showing €455,000 was to be transferred to an account belonging to Eto’o. Former federation executive Gibril Gatama said there was no accounting or banking evidence showing that the money was subsequently transferred to an official federation account.

Critics have questioned whether Eto’o’s close relationship with Infantino has influenced FIFA’s handling of the allegations. FIFA rejected that suggestion, insisting Infantino has no influence over its independent judicial bodies and warning against amplifying unproven claims.