By Vitus Michael

President of Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o, said Cameroon is appalled by allegations of match-fixing by Algerian football authorities.

Algerian football coach Djamel Belmadi told Algerian TV that Cameroon’s 2022 World Cup playoff win over Algeria “was a conspiracy between two or three persons”.

Belmadi argued that Algeria’s home defeat in March 29 play-off in Blida was distorted by the referee’s performance.

“FECAFOOT disputes these defamatory allegations instilled in an allusive way and formulated in a repetitive way by the Algerian football leaders. Cameroon reserves the right to bring the matter before the FIFA Ethics Committee in the coming days,” Eto’o said in a statement on Monday night.

“FECAFOOT urges Algerian football leaders to use legal means to exercise their recognized rights,” he added.

Similarly, the Gambia Football Federation, GFF have raised alarm over security concerns for its FIFA Referee, Mr Bakary Papa Gassama over comments credited to Algeria national team Coach, Mr. Djamel Belmadi.

The GFF in a statement on Wednesday stated that the safety of Referee Gassama is a huge concern as Algeria Football Federation as well as Algerians have continued to make unguarded comments about the referee after he handled the 2-1 2022 World Cup play-off defeat against Cameroon on March 29th.

“The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) wishes to inform its stakeholders and the general public that it has been following with grave concern the sustained verbal attacks launched against the person of FIFA Gambian Referee, Mr. Bakary Papa Gassama, by Algerian nationals through the various forms of media, ever since he officiated Algeria’s 2-1 home defeat to Cameroon in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played on the 29th March, 2022.

“The Federation has lodged a formal complaint to the Algerian Football Federation on the matter, and has formally requested FIFA and CAF to open investigations and disciplinary proceedings against the Head Coach of the Algeria National Football Team Mr. Djamel Belmadi for his remarks on a video clip and on an Algerian Television, the statement started.

The GFF consequently asked the Algeria Football authority to tender a public statement condemning Mr Belmadi’s comments and the verbal attacks by the Algerians against Gassama.

“Based on the foregoing, we’ve also asked the Algerian federation to make a public statement condemning the actions of Mr. Belmadi and all the verbal attacks against Mr. Gassama by Algerians and take all necessary precautions to restrain their officials and nationals from making any further negative remarks and threats against the person of Mr. Gassama.’

The GFF further added that failure to do as they (GFF) had requested, the Algeria Football Federation should be held liable for whatever harms that may befall Mr Gassama.

“Otherwise, their federation will be held responsible and complicit for any harm which may happen to him.

“In conclusion, the GFF wishes to assure that they are in constant contact with Papa, and that all security precautions are in place to keep him away from harm’s way when he returns home from an overseas assignment.”