Former Cameroon Star Samuel Eto’o Backs Embattled FIFA President Gianni Infantino Amid Growing Pressure

Former Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o has thrown his support behind beleaguered FIFA President Gianni Infantino, stating that he "hasn’t done anything wrong" despite mounting pressure for him to step down over a controversial World Cup selloff plan.

Infantino has faced intense scrutiny following the collapse of a proposal to secure private investment in FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup. UEFA has threatened a boycott of FIFA competitions, with several continental and national federations also withdrawing their backing. However, Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, dismissed the criticism, suggesting the backlash stems largely from political manoeuvring ahead of FIFA’s presidential election next year.

"I don’t think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong," the former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker told CNN. "I think the timing of all of that is because there’s an election coming out."

The proposal, which would have distributed substantial funding to FIFA’s 211 member associations, faced strong opposition and was ultimately abandoned. Alongside UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) have voiced concerns. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) earlier this month "unanimously reconfirmed its support" for Infantino, aligning with Samuel Eto’o's stance.

"President Gianni Infantino has changed football," Samuel Eto’o said, urging African nations to support the Swiss official. "He’s given opportunities to nations that didn’t have those opportunities to take part in the most beautiful tournament, the World Cup... We need to accept and recognise what he’s done, and we should support him for everything he’s done up to now."

Meanwhile, a group of former international players called for immediate change at FIFA, arguing that the current leadership under Gianni Infantino has been blinded by power. Signatories including France’s Emmanuel Petit, Bixente Lizarazu, and Robert Pires, as well as Briana Scurry and Lucy Bronze, stated that the game has drifted away from its core values. The group also features Claudio Pizarro, Juan Sebastian Veron, Emmanuel Adebayor, Didier Drogba, and David James.

With a potential no-confidence vote being discussed by regional powerhouses, the players' group called for a new structural change granting fans and players a direct say in how football is run ahead of next year's ballot.