Samuel Eto’o has defended FIFA president Gianni Infantino and called for the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal to return if Infantino wins a fourth term in 2027.
The Cameroon Football Federation president told CNN Sports that he does not believe Infantino did anything wrong, linking much of the criticism against the FIFA president to the upcoming election.
“I don’t think that President Gianni Infantino has done anything wrong,” Eto’o said. “I think the timing of all of that is because there’s an election coming out.”
Infantino faced intense criticism after withdrawing the Forward Enterprise proposal following opposition from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation.
The plan sought to attract private investment into FIFA’s commercial operations and increase funding for the organisation’s 211 member associations. Reports said the proposal could have raised up to $20 billion, with each association potentially receiving $20 million and an additional $66 million over 12 years.
Eto’o believes the proposal could help narrow the financial gap between football’s biggest nations and smaller associations, particularly in Africa. He argued that greater investment could give developing football nations more resources to grow the game.
The former Cameroon captain also wants FIFA members to reconsider the proposal if Infantino secures another term.
Infantino will contest the FIFA presidential election in March 2027, as opposition to his leadership continues to grow. Several football bodies have questioned his approach, while CAF has maintained its support for the FIFA president.
