Samson Siasia under siege by FIFA, kidnappers

• Banned for life by FIFA for bribery and match manipulation
• Kidnappers demand N50 million to release aged mother

 

BY IYKE KANU

These are indeed trying times for Nigeria’s Super Eagles former coach, Samson Siasia. Just recently, kidnappers abducted his 79-year-old mother, in Bayelsa state, demanding a humungous sum of N50 million, before they can let her free.

And today, while he is still grappling with the kidnap issue, world football governing body, FIFA, used the sledge hammer on him. He was slammed a life ban for alleged bribery and manipulation of matches in violation of FIFA Code of Ethics. In addition, he was fined $50,000 for agreeing to ‘the manipulation of matches.’

Siasia was coach of Nigeria between 2010-2011 and for a spell in 2016. He was also coach of Under 20 and Under 23 national football teams.

FIFA did not state when he committed the infractions, but said the ex-Nigeria international has been notified today.

Siasia is the third African to be banned by FIFA. Former Sierra Leone FA official Abu Bakarr Kabba and former Botswana FA official Mooketsi Kgotlele were suspended in July for five years and for life respectively.

However, Siasia, has denied any wrongdoing in the allegations of bribery and match manipulations levelled against him by FIFA.

He also said that he was yet to be notified by FIFA on the life ban the international football body placed on him on football activities, following the allegations of bribery and manipulation of matches at the international level.

Siasia, who made his position known on Friday, also said that he was never invited by FIFA to tell his own side of the story.

“I don’t know anything about this. I did nothing wrong and I have not received any letter from FIFA,” he said.

The former Eagles coach said he would fight this to clear his name.

FIFA’s statement reads:

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 formal ethics proceedings against Mr Siasia were initiated on 11 February 2019 and stem from an extensive investigation into matches that 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.