Three presidents of Cameroonian football clubs are sanctioned by Fecafoot for misbehaviour.
Three presidents of Cameroonian division one clubs have been sanctioned by the country’s FA, Fecafoot, for fighting and insulting match officials.
Theophile Abega of Canon and Hans Njinou of Cintra were handed five match ban after both men fought in the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde.
The brawl involved supporters of both teams following their day 23 league game, in which Canon beat Cintra 1-0.
Njinou was identified as the culprit of the brawl, but Abega was punished after claims he spread rumours that Coton Sport Garoua, Canon’s rivals, had bribed Cintra to beat them.
The rumours were considered as insinuating that the match officials had been bribed by Coton Sport.
Meanwhile Antoine Essomba Eyenga of Tonnerre Yaounde was banned from the dressing room for six games after he copiously abused officials of their game against Asmy Yaounde.
Fecafoot hopes that the punishments will deter club officials from attempting to intimidate match officials into favouring their team.
Fecafoot has warned that it will not hesitate to punish offenders heavily.
A note from the secretary general reads: « Such sanctions could be the suspension of home grounds of concerned clubs, which will send them playing their games on neutral grounds. »
Several cases of intimidation of match officials has been reported by the press.
A recent example is that of referee Simon Pierre Tsanga being forced to undress on the pitch to prove that he was not officiating with bribe money in his underwear.
The corruption accusation was raised by players and officials of Esperance Guider when they hosted Unisport Bafang.
Unisport finally won 2-1 and left Esperance at the bottom of the table.