Tensions Rise Between Union de Douala and Fecafoot Over Ticket Revenue Dispute
Khaled Hegazy
Dailysports's expert
The Union de Douala vs. Dynamo de Douala game last Sunday took a sharp turn when a financial disagreement between the host team and the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) descended into anarchy. The dispute, which focused on ticket income sharing, brought to light persistent conflicts in Cameroonian football.
After the Transitional Committee for Professional Football (CTFP) granted Union de Douala's request to shift the game from the Mbappé Leppe stadium to the Bepanda annex, the dispute started. However, the team was required to pay a stadium leasing cost of 350,000 FCFA. When the ticket revenue was divided, the club received a much smaller share than expected. Out of a total of 2,072,000 FCFA in ticket sales, Union de Douala was allocated just 621,600 FCFA, as the CTFP cited a delay in rental payment as justification for the reduced share.
As tensions increased, police enforcement became involved in order to keep the peace during the conflict. Player incentives were also affected by the dispute. Following their victory over Dynamo, the players were promised a match bonus by Union de Douala's director, Robert Tamze. However, local officials froze the money, thus the players were unable to get their promised prize.
Fecafoot Responds to Allegations
The financial disagreement also revolves around the distribution of stadium revenue. Union de Douala demanded 70% of the ticket sales, but Fecafoot, through the CTFP, adhered to a 23% allocation. A confrontation that necessitated the involvement of police authorities resulted from the club's reluctance to accept this distribution.
Fecafoot attacked Union de Douala for failing to follow the new revenue-sharing guidelines and defended its stance, claiming that the federation had already paid for the stadium rental. The federation announced that the matter would be examined by the relevant authorities, further deepening the rift between the club and the football federation.
This ongoing dispute highlights the financial instability and management challenges facing Cameroon’s top football division, MTN Elite One, and its governance bodies. Fans and players are waiting for a resolution, as the situation remains unresolved.
