The Court of Arbitration for Sport declares itself competent to hear the appeal filed by the Cameroonian Football Referees Association.
A case opposes the Cameroonian Football Referees Association (Acaf) to the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) before the CAS. The procedure initiated by the Acaf’s referral, which contests the regularity of the procedure that led to Samuel Eto’o’s election as head of the federation in 2025, delivers its first decision before ruling on the merits.
On May 5, 2026, the arbitral tribunal publishes the decision according to which it is competent to hear the appeal filed by the Referees Association. This appeal is based, among other things, on the communiqué of September 13, 2025, summarizing the elections for the positions of presidents, vice-presidents of the boards of directors of departmental football leagues, and delegates to regional general assemblies. The arbitral panel recognizes this document as a “decision” that can be subject to appeal. The tribunal also recognizes the Association’s standing to challenge in court any decisions made by Fecafoot and declares its appeal admissible.
In the same decision, the tribunal gives Fecafoot 20 days to submit its response including several defense elements such as documents and evidence offers, information on witnesses, experts. Failing this response, the court may continue the procedure and issue the final award in which it also announces the reasons related to its jurisdiction and the admissibility of this appeal.
The case, which aims to annul the latest elections at Fecafoot, constitutes a sensitive file that could disturb the calm observed within the national football governing body as well as in the football environment in Cameroon.
