Football’s governing body, Fédération Internationale de Football
Association has banned former Super Eagles of Nigeria coach, Samson
Siasia, for bribery and match fixing allegation.
According to FIFA, Siasia was found guilty of receiving a bribe to
manipulate the outcomes of matches.
In a statement on Friday, FIFA said Siasia would also pay a fine of
CHF50,000 while he remained banned from all football activities both at
national and international levels.
The 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
February 11, 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 CHF50,000 has been imposed on Mr
Siasia. The decision was notified to Mr Siasia today, the date on which
the ban comes into force.”
Apart from his success as a player, Siasia is famed for leading
Nigeria’s Under-23 men’s team to a silver finish at the football event
of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.