Samuel Eto'o beat the system after sports judges said he could run for election at African soccer headquarters next Wednesday. The four-time top African soccer star appealed when officials told him he couldn't join the race for leadership positions. His case went before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where judges agreed with him instead of soccer bosses.
The sports court heard the case on March 3 and decided that CAF leaders must add Eto'o back to the ballot. Judges explained that they saw enough proof against the earlier decision that blocked him. They said the final call belongs to everyone voting at the March 12 special meeting in Cairo, Egypt.
Nobody explained why CAF first rejected Eto'o back in January. The former Cameroon scoring machine faced trouble last year from both FIFA and African soccer leaders. World soccer officials banned him from watching national team games for six months because he yelled at referees during a youth women's tournament in Colombia.
Earlier troubles came when CAF punished Eto'o for working with a betting company. They hit him with a ban plus a $200,000 fine but later canceled both penalties when he fought back. Despite amazing skills during his playing days, the current Cameroon soccer president creates arguments wherever he goes as a sports administrator.
All big African soccer jobs, including who represents Africa on the world stage at FIFA meetings, will be up for vote next Wednesday. People needed to apply by last November if they wanted these positions. Strangely, African soccer leaders never shared which names made the final list despite elections happening less than seven days away.
The current boss, Patrice Motsepe, faces zero competition as he seeks another four years running African soccer. Nobody stepped up to challenge him for the top spot. Many consider Eto'o among the greatest players Africa has ever produced, but his management style causes problems across the continent and beyond.
The sports court heard the case on March 3 and decided that CAF leaders must add Eto'o back to the ballot. Judges explained that they saw enough proof against the earlier decision that blocked him. They said the final call belongs to everyone voting at the March 12 special meeting in Cairo, Egypt.
Nobody explained why CAF first rejected Eto'o back in January. The former Cameroon scoring machine faced trouble last year from both FIFA and African soccer leaders. World soccer officials banned him from watching national team games for six months because he yelled at referees during a youth women's tournament in Colombia.
Earlier troubles came when CAF punished Eto'o for working with a betting company. They hit him with a ban plus a $200,000 fine but later canceled both penalties when he fought back. Despite amazing skills during his playing days, the current Cameroon soccer president creates arguments wherever he goes as a sports administrator.
All big African soccer jobs, including who represents Africa on the world stage at FIFA meetings, will be up for vote next Wednesday. People needed to apply by last November if they wanted these positions. Strangely, African soccer leaders never shared which names made the final list despite elections happening less than seven days away.
The current boss, Patrice Motsepe, faces zero competition as he seeks another four years running African soccer. Nobody stepped up to challenge him for the top spot. Many consider Eto'o among the greatest players Africa has ever produced, but his management style causes problems across the continent and beyond.
