FIFA Slams Life Ban, N18.5m Fine On Coach Siasia
BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – Former Super Eagles and National Under-23 coach, Samson Siasia, has been banned for life by the World football governing body, FIFA.
The clampdown on Siasia follows reports submitted by the FIFA ethics committee that found him guilty of bribery allegations
According a release by FIFA on Friday, the former Nigerian international has also been slammed with a fine of CHF 50,000 ($51,000) about N18.5million for his financial misdemeanor
Siasia, who won African Nations Cup with the Super Eagles in Tunisia 1994, reportedly accepted bribe to manipulate matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
By the FIFA’s indictment, Coach Siasia, who turned 52 on Wednesday, August 14, is now worrying about the way forward for his football and coaching career as well as the travails of his mother kidnapped over a month ago.
The FIFA statement on Friday status thus; “The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Mr Samson Siasia, a former official of the Nigeria Football Federation, guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics.”
The reports confirmed that the formal ethics proceedings against Coach Siasia commenced on February 11, 2019 and stem from an extensive investigation into matches that one Mr Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes.
“This large-scale investigation was conducted by FIFA via its competent departments and in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders and authorities.
“In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber found that Mr Siasia had breached art. 11 (Bribery) of the 2009 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics and banned him for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level. In addition, a fine in the amount of CHF 50,000 has been imposed on Mr Siasia.”
“The decision was notified to Mr Siasia today, the date on which the ban comes into force”, the statement said.
The latest development comes amidst emotional agony the former Nantes striker is currently undergoing due to the kidnap of his mother, Madam Ogere Siasia.
It has been quite some trying times for Coach Siasia and his 93-year-old father, who recently raised alarm to security authorities with a passionate appeal to the kidnappers to release his wife held hostage for about a month now. – With agency report
