Samuel Eto’o has been challenged to provide evidence after apparently accusing former international referee and army officer Alioum Sidi of attempting to influence Morocco in favour of another country during recent African competitions.
The president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) did not name the individual when speaking at the graduation of a new group of Cameroonian referees. However, his description was widely interpreted as referring to Sidi, who is a former international referee, a serving officer in the Cameroonian army and the current president of the Association of Cameroonian Football Referees (ACAF).
Eto’o warned match officials to be careful about the people with whom they associate and alleged that a former referee had acted against Cameroon’s interests.
“The same former referee, a military officer by profession, tried to influence Morocco in favour of another nation,” Eto’o said.
He added that the individual had allegedly “done the same thing again when the Indomitable Lionesses were competing at the last Africa Cup of Nations”.
Eto’o did not explain how the alleged attempt to influence Morocco took place, nor did he identify the country that was supposedly intended to benefit. No evidence supporting the accusations has been made public.
Sidi nevertheless concluded that he was the person being targeted and issued a strongly worded statement the following day.
“I categorically reject any accusation, insinuation or interpretation” suggesting that he attempted to influence a match for the benefit of another nation or acted against Cameroon, the former referee wrote.
He called on Eto’o to “clearly specify the facts” and provide the objective evidence on which the allegations were based. Sidi said he would otherwise consider taking the matter to the appropriate courts and sporting authorities to protect his honour and integrity.
The ACAF president also suggested that an existing dispute between his organisation and Fecafoot could be behind Eto’o’s comments.
ACAF is currently involved in a legal case with Fecafoot before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Sidi said that disagreement might explain what he described as a “loss of self-control” by the federation president.
CamFoot, a media outlet regularly critical of Eto’o, has also linked the remarks to the institutional dispute between Fecafoot and ACAF. That context, however, does not establish whether the allegations themselves are true.
The dispute opens another area of tension within Cameroonian football, which has been marked by repeated institutional battles in recent years.
Eto’o, a former Cameroon captain and one of the country’s most prominent football figures, has led Fecafoot during a period of continuing disagreements involving football officials and administrative bodies.
Sidi’s response means the issue could now move beyond public statements, with the former referee threatening legal and sporting action unless the claims are clarified and supported by evidence.