Sports
0 Comment(s)
Samson Siasia
Former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia says the Nigeria Football Federation supported FIFA to have him banned for alleged involvement in match-fixing in August 2019.
In a recent interview with Athlist, the 56-year-old, whose ban ends in a few months, said the NFF not only refused to support him but also carried out FIFA’s instruction not to let him know he was under investigation by the world football body. “Nigeria abandoned me at that time of need; that’s my own take on how this thing played out,” the former Eagles striker and member of the 1994 AFCON-winning squad, said. “It’s an allegation; they said bribery. What is bribery? Is it not when money changes hands? Was there any proof of that? There were none.
“I spoke with someone who was trying to hire me as a coach in Australia. I didn’t know the guy was a match-fixer, but FIFA knew this guy. Why would they allow him to be around any FIFA tournament? “So, when they found out through emails, our correspondence about how this guy would take me to Australia, I played in Australia, so I felt it would be nice to go back there. “We talked about how much salaries, transfers, bonuses, and sign-on fees were, and that was all.
“When FIFA was looking for me, I didn’t even know. I am not affiliated with FIFA; their affiliation is with the NFF. So, they went to the NFF and told them not to let me know that they were investigating me. But if they didn’t tell me, how was I supposed to defend myself?”
Siasia added, “Then they sent me a letter, but it went to my spam. It was two days before the ban that I found out that FIFA was looking for me. “Then we started to see how we could communicate with them to see how I could have a hearing. But they said the time had elapsed and I should go to the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport). “For me to do that, it took like two days. Finding a sports lawyer in this country is not easy. You can hardly find one. So, we struggled and managed. I can tell you that the boy we took to write the appeal brief for me to get that hearing is suing me up until today. “It has been dragging because he said I have to pay €300,000 even though our initial agreement was in euros. I’m still struggling with that one just because Nigerians couldn’t stand up on their feet and check what was going on.” It took Siasia almost two years to appeal the ban, having eventually done so in June 2021 at CAS, earning him a reduction of the suspension to five years and the cancellation of the additional fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000). Siasia is one of Nigeria’s best coaches in history, having guided the U20 and U23 nationals to silver at the 2005 World Cup and the men’s football event of the 2008 Olympic Games.
A few months before coming under the FIFA hammer, Siasia was one of 77 applicants for the then vacant Cameroon national team job.
Source: PUNCH
( Ovichnews Nigeria ) - Nigerian national team defender Ola Aina has shared his thoughts on...
( Ovichnews Nigeria ) - Wilfred Ndidi, the talented midfielder for both the Super Eagles and...
( Ovichnews Nigeria ) - In the wake of Finidi George's triumphant stewardship that saw Nigeria...
( Ovichnews Nigeria ) - Super Eagles forward, Samuel Chukwueze, has emerged as a doubt for...
Ahead of the highly-anticipated clash between Nigeria and South Africa for a spot at the women’s football event of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, a section of fans have expressed concern over the Super Falcons’ chances of qualifying for the event following a camp update from the team’s social media handle, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Read MoreSuper Eagles forward, Emmanuel Dennis, may have been inspired by popular singer Madonna, who once said, “No matter who you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you’ve come from, you can always change and become a better version of yourself.”
Read MoreOGC Nice striker, Terem Moffi, is on his way to creating another Nigerian milestone in the French Ligue 1 after reaching a landmark 50 goals in their 2-1 loss at home against Nantes on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Read MoreSuper Falcons star, Jennifer Echegini, is excited after scoring a hat-trick — the first of her professional career — in Juventus’ 4-0 win over Fiorentina in the Serie A Femminile TIM, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Read MoreFormer Nigeria youth international, Nnamdi Ofoborh, is thrilled to have returned to football action after spending three years on the sidelines due to a heart problem, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Read MoreLight welterweight boxer, Adeyemi ‘Spirit’ Adekanla, insists he will snatch the West African Boxing Union title from current champion, Segun ‘War’ Adeyemi when they clash at GOtv Boxing Night 31 May 1.
Read MoreAugustine Okejepha scored a superb goal to give Rivers United of Nigeria a 1-0 victory over USM Alger of Algeria on Sunday in their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final first leg.
Read MoreIt was a drama filled fight morning in Abuja on Sunday laced with mixed feelings as Cameroon’s Octave Ayinde defeated Nigeria’s Vincent Ebenezer event’s main card.
Read MoreIkoyi Club’s Sunday Olapade, last Friday won the second Custodian Golf Classic at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Club in Lagos, to record his first win on the Professional Golf Developmental Tour.
Read MoreAhead of the highly-anticipated clash between Nigeria and South Africa for a spot at the women’s football event of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Super Falcons camp opens on Sunday with the Nigeria Football Federation announcing that Asisat Oshoala is not expected until Thursday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Read MoreWith the Premier League title race reaching its climax, attention turns to the crucial remaining fixtures that will determine the destiny of the 2023–24 season.
Read MoreQuarter miler Omolara Ogunmakinju stole the show at the just-ended African Games, but it was not an easy ride to continental glory for the mother of two, writes ‘TANA AIYEJINA
Read More
Create an account or log into your account to leave a comment
Comments