Cameroon’s football federation expressed its “great astonishment” after learning that the sports ministry had hired Marc Brys as the new coach of the country’s national team.
The Belgian succeeds Rigobert Song, whose contract expired after the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year and was not renewed.
“The Cameroonian Football Federation learned, at the same time as all Cameroonians, of the appointment to positions of responsibility within the national senior men’s football selection,” a federation statement said.
It said the decision was made “unilaterally” and expressed its “great astonishment at this act which is contrary to the terms of Decree No. 2014/384 of September 26, 2014 relating to the organization and operation of national football teams.”
FIFA prohibits all forms of government involvement in football on a national basis. Reports by ESPN sated that he had reached out to FIFA for comment.
The federation said it was trying “to shed light on this regrettable situation.”
Song led the Indomitable Lions to the round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Below is the Cameroonian FA’s statement on the coach’s appointment:
The Cameroonian Football Federation took note on April 2, 2024 of the recruitment of a coach and managers responsible for the technical, administrative and medical supervision of the senior national men’s football team.
There is no doubt that the technical examination of applications for the position of coach is a competence devolved to the national federation under the terms of decree No. 2014/384 of July 26, 2014, relating to the organization and operation of national football teams.
More precisely, in its article 3 (1), this regulatory act signed by President Paul Biya, entrusts Fecafoot with the administrative, sporting and technical management of national football selections. Our body is therefore competent to receive, evaluate and propose to government supervision candidates for the vacant positions concerned.
Despite our diligent proposals and after a vain wait, we were instructed to contract a new coach, his deputies, medical and administrative staff, like the General Coordinator of the national football teams, whose Recruitment is, moreover, an exclusive competence of Fecafoot according to article 4 of the decree cited above.
Having been neither directly nor remotely associated with the process of pre-selection of applications for vacant positions, referring to the provisions of the previously mentioned decree and the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Fifa Players, the Cameroonian Football Federation does not is not involved in the recruitment process for personnel appointed within the technical, administrative and medical management of our national teams.
The national federation cannot recognize these appointments made outside of any legal and regulatory framework. In absolute terms, Fecafoot cannot be a party to this act devoid of any legal basis and cannot compromise with supranational regulations and, even less, with the legal and regulatory provisions in force in our country.
Mr. Minister, please take note of our remarks, while remaining available for collaboration in compliance with the texts in force.
