CAF Appeals Committee Rules in Favor of Samuel Eto’o: Fined Overturned, Rights Restored.
In a significant legal victory, Samuel Eto’o, President of FECAFOOT, has been cleared of a $200,000 fine imposed by the CAF Disciplinary Committee. The ruling, delivered on February 19, 2025, by the CAF Appeals Committee, determined that the Disciplinary Committee lacked jurisdiction over ethical matters, reinforcing Eto’o’s stance since the beginning of the case.
Legal Battle Ends in Victory for Eto’o
The Appeals Committee’s decision comes after an extensive legal review, which found that the CAF Disciplinary Committee had overstepped its authority. Ethical matters, it ruled, fall strictly under the jurisdiction of an independent Ethics Committee. As a result, the controversial fine imposed on June 27, 2024, was entirely quashed.
Additionally, the committee acknowledged that the case was already pending before the FECAFOOT Ethics Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Citing the legal principle of lis pendens, which prevents multiple jurisdictions from handling the same case simultaneously, the Appeals Committee ruled that CAF’s disciplinary bodies had no grounds to intervene.
Eto’o’s Right to Fair Hearing Reaffirmed
A crucial aspect of the ruling was the recognition that the initial proceedings were initiated without affording Eto’o his fundamental right to be heard. This lack of due process further strengthened the case for overturning the decision.
The ruling fully restores Eto’o’s rights, allowing him to continue serving as President of FECAFOOT with renewed determination and clarity. His legal team, led by Florian MBAYEN HEGBA, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, highlighting it as a landmark decision that upholds fairness and justice in football governance.
With this legal hurdle now behind him, Eto’o can focus on his leadership at FECAFOOT without distraction. The case has also raised broader concerns about the limits of disciplinary bodies within CAF and the importance of due process in football governance.
This ruling marks a major turning point, not just for Eto’o, but for football administration across Africa, reinforcing the need for clear legal frameworks and fair hearings in disciplinary matters.
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