Samuel Eto’o has been challenged to provide evidence after accusing a former international referee and army officer of acting against Cameroon’s interests during previous African competitions.
The president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) made the claims at a graduation ceremony for a new group of Cameroonian referees. He warned the officials about some of the people they might encounter in their work before referring to a former referee who also serves as a military officer.
Eto’o said the individual had “tried to influence Morocco in favour of another country” and had repeated the same conduct when Cameroon’s women’s team competed at the most recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
He did not name the person, identify the country allegedly set to benefit, or explain what he meant by attempting to influence Morocco. Eto’o also gave no public evidence to support the accusations.
His comments, reported by Cameroonian outlet CFOOT, quickly led to speculation that he was referring to Alioum Sidi, a former international referee and Cameroonian army officer. Sidi is now president of the Cameroonian Football Referees Association.
Eto’o was quoted as accusing the former official of having “played the bad roles” during the latest men’s and women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in an attempt to stop Cameroon from progressing in the competitions.
Alioum Sidi subsequently said he believed he was the person targeted by Eto’o’s remarks and issued a strongly worded response.
The former referee categorically rejected “any accusation, insinuation or interpretation” suggesting that he had tried to influence a match in favour of another country or had acted against Cameroon’s interests.
He called on Eto’o to set out clearly the specific incidents behind the allegations and to present objective evidence proving that they were valid.
Sidi also warned that he could take the matter to the courts and the relevant authorities in order to defend his honour, reputation and integrity if the claims were not supported by evidence.
The dispute comes amid an existing legal conflict between the Cameroonian Football Referees Association, led by Sidi, and FECAFOOT. That case is currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Sidi suggested that the background to Eto’o’s comments could be linked to that dispute. He described the allegations as potentially connected to what he called “the loss of composure by the president of the federation”, in an apparent reference to Eto’o.
Neither Eto’o nor FECAFOOT has publicly identified the referee concerned, while Sidi’s statement did not refer to any specific match or competition. The accusations therefore remain unsubstantiated in public, with the former referee demanding that evidence be produced or that legal action may follow.
The remarks have opened a new controversy around Cameroon’s football leadership and its relationship with the country’s refereeing authorities. Cameroon’s football affairs have also recently been the subject of wider debate, including Eto’o’s support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino, highlighted in a separate report headlined: “Defending his interests after Mbappe loss… Eto’o reveals the secret behind his strong support for Infantino.”
