Former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o is being investigated over alleged match-fixing.
The Cameroon legend became president of his country’s football federation two years ago, but now finds himself embroiled in controversy amid claims he has rigged matches. Allegations that he helped fix games in the Cameroonian second tier first arose in July following the leak of a supposed conversation between Eto'o and Valentine Nkwain, also known as Bobdidy, the president of Victoria United.
According to Cam foot, Eto'o allegedly said: “There are things we can do – but you have to be very discreet, brother. Don’t worry, we’ll give you your three points and we will suspend the referee.
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“Opopo [Victoria’s nickname] must go up to the first division. This is our goal. This is our federation. Victoria United will go up.”
Victoria did indeed go on and win promotion to the Cameroonian top flight. Eto'o denies the allegation while Nkwain has said it was not his voice on the recording.
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Eto'o, a former Inter Milan striker, told Gazzetta dello Sport he was "talking to a friend, someone who invests in football and wants to make his club one of the best in Cameroon". He said: “I just reassured him by saying that I would have done everything possible to avoid any refereeing errors against him.”
However, police are now looking into alleged "abuse of authority and corruption" in Cameroonian football involving 40 people. Eto'o has been no stranger to controversy over the last year. At the World Cup in Qatar, a video on social media appeared to show him kneeing a man in the head outside Stadium 974 in Doha.
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In a statement, Eto’o said he was provoked by a fan who was “probably” an Algeria supporter as part of an ongoing campaign of harassment following Cameroon’s qualifying win over Algeria in March.
“After the Brazil-South Korea match, I had a violent altercation with a person who was probably an Algerian supporter,” Eto’o wrote on his social media channels.
“I would like to apologise for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality. I apologise to the public for this unfortunate incident.”
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