Police Disrupt Douala Club Presidents’ Meeting Against Eto’o.

Meeting of Douala Football Club Presidents opposing Eto'o, disrupted by police.

The police in Douala, Cameroon, today interrupted a meeting of club presidents opposed to Samuel Eto’o’s presidency at the Federation of Cameroon Football (FECAFOOT). The officials had gathered to express their dissatisfaction with the fact that the recent decisions rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the president of Fecafoot two days ago, did not call for his resignation.

The police entered the meeting and informed the club presidents that they had to obtain public demonstration authorization from the Prefect or Sub-Prefect of Douala 1 before they could continue. The club presidents said they would comply with the police request, but they vowed to continue their fight against Eto’o.

The CAS had upheld Eto’o’s election as president of Fecafoot, despite allegations of irregularities in the voting process but a couple of days ago, ruled that some of the individuals suspended from FECAFOOT be reinstated. The club presidents who met in Douala said they were disappointed with the CAS decision and that they would continue to fight against Eto’o’s presidency.

The meeting of the club presidents is the latest in a string of opposition to Eto’o’s presidency. Recently, a selection of Cameroonian football stakeholders wrote to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), accusing him of corruption and mismanagement, necessitating CAF to open an investigation.

Cameroon football legend, Roger Milla, however, has come out strongly in support of Eto’o, castigating CAF for its interference with the ‘good job’ FECAFOOT is doing.

“To me, they have no right. We are not playing in an African Cup or a National tournament. They cannot just come and carry out investigations in Cameroonian football,” he said during an interview with TV5 Monde.

It remains to be seen whether the police intervention will deter the club presidents from continuing their fight against Eto’o. However, the meeting has certainly highlighted the precarious situation facing the management of Cameroonian football.

Washira Helene