The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has reduced former Super Eagles striker Samson Siasia’s life-ban from football for bribery to five years.
Siasia was initially sanctioned in 2019 by world football governing body FIFA for agreeing to “receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches.”
The 53-year-old appealed against the ban with FIFA and CAS as he denied the charges against him.
CAS “determined the imposition of a life ban to be disproportionate for a first offence which was committed passively and which had not had an adverse or immediate effect on football stakeholders, and that a five-year ban would still achieve the envisaged aim of punishing the infringement committed by Mr Siasia.”
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The ban has been backdated to start on 16 August 2019 as the court explained the background to the case.
“In 2010, a match fixer tried to involve Mr Siasia as a coach of a club under his strict instructions,” CAS revealed.
“With the promise of employment benefits, Mr Siasia would have had to always field several players under the control of the match fixer.
“The negotiations between the match fixer and Mr Siasia in relation to the conditions of employment were conducted by email over a period of two months.
“Eventually, the club did not accept or could not afford Mr Siasia’s requests and the negotiations ended.”
The court also cancelled a fine of $50,000 that had also been part of the sanctions imposed by FIFA.
“(CAS) acknowledged the need for sanctions to be sufficiently high enough to eradicate bribery and especially match-fixing in football.
“However, the Panel considered in the particular circumstances of this matter that it would be inappropriate and excessive to impose a financial sanction in addition to the five-year ban, since the ban sanction already incorporated a financial punishment in eliminating football as a source of revenue for Mr Siasia.
“And considering that Mr Siasia had not obtained any gain or pecuniary benefit from his unethical behaviour.”
Siasia was a member of the Super Eagles squad that won the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia and also featured at the World Cup that same year.
He led the Flying Eagles to win the 2005 CAF U-20 AFCON and also in the same year led the team to second place finish at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands.
As coach Of the U-23 Eagles, he won the 2015 CAF U-23 AFCON and helped the team win silver and bronze at the Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016 Olympics respectively.
17 Comments
Thank God for his mercy. The Nigerian jose morinho will be back in 2 years time. Siasia have suffered enough temptation.May God grant siasia the strenght, and more furtunes, I hope he comes back stronger.
We thank God for reduction !!!
WITH THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MEDALS LISTED ABOVE, THAT MEAN AFTER KESHI YOU ARE THE NEXT NIGERIA BEST COACH IN HISTORY.
TAKE HEART SIASIA ,WE LOVE YOU ALL
And who will be willing to give him a Job after this unethical behavior?
Nice question, mr Nice. These people are just chronically corrupt to the teeth. We can see what is happenening all around rohr bcs he has refused to dine with them. He (sissia) has dented his reputation. The allegations have been confirmed but initially when he was hammered with the ban some folks still defended him even as substantial facts were presented. He even denied the allegations. Chronic corrupt liars. I’m utterly disappointed in this guy. Honestly.
Nobody is above mistakes and regretful actions… He has learnt from this experience.
Abi o, his only mistake was not reporting the matter from the onset. Remembered when this man was seeking for funds to clear his name, and everyone folded there hands.
Guys this case now made so much sense and clear as crystals now that we know what the real offense was. I wandered why he was claiming innocence before instead of pleading guilty and ask for leniency. I knew FIFA could never have come to such judgement without having their facts proven beyond doubts but I hope he learns from his mistakes and move on with his life once the ban is lifted in 3 years time.
It is important in life to always learn not to cut corners to achieve our goals, being steadfast with truth and integrity is a hallmark of a great achiever.
Good luck Siasia!!!
It’s really a great good news. I am sure Siasia would rise again. My love for him started in Beijing Olympic in 2008 during the match against Belgium which we demolished 4-1. I was in the stadium live with my friends and one of them from Belgium. He still talks about the match till today.
Happy for you siasia, now go and sin know more.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU SAMSON SIASIA
THE BEST NIGERIA MOST MEDAL DECORATED COACH.
Congrats to Mr Sia1. I saw a reduction coming and I am glad it did eventually.
The good thing is that you can have your career back and can remain involved in football in a short while from now.
Lets hope all involved and others watching have learnt good lessons. First it was Salisu Yusuf, Now its Siasia….Who’s next…?
An entire career is not worth throwing away because of 1 brown envelope.
I differ in all the sentiments here for Siasia,. remember this same individual was backing Giwa abortive coup to unseat Pinnick. the lowest point of this individual was even in the face of FiFa ban because of his personal interest of what to he stands to gain with Giwa. he said that FIFA can ban us for 5 years, that Giwa should be president. What i see is that, this individual has a predisposition to do anything for his selfish gain and got what he deserved. Imagine, until this report by completesport and while raising funds he was still claiming innocence
Hehehehe… Innocence my foot. Does FIFA just wake up out of the blues and handpick people to ban for life just like that…?! I’ve read the usual racist folks here pull the race card as usual on this case claiming FIFA hates Africa bla bla bla as if FIFA is spelt or pronounced as N.F.F…..lmao
Little wonder it took so long to even raise the money for the appeal.
Let’s just be grateful he at least got off the hook on a first time offender basis. At least he gets to return to taking part in football related activities in a few years and can focus on either his academy, a job in the NPFL or as a TV pundit. Cos just like salisu Yusuf, I doubt a national team job or a coaching job outside Nigeria is a possibility, going by all that has transpired so far.
It’s good that you said this because to a lot of people who are aware of this , this isn’t the first time Siasia has ever done such crappy acta in the areas of football. During the time he was coach of Mikel Obi’s u20 team , he once told a player that for him to make it to the national team he must do something pleasant in which that player refused because he believed that he should be selected via merits . This dude informed a friend of mine about the happens and you should see how sad well were . Though the guy did get to play football outside the country , the memories of what Siasia did still fresh in our memories .
All I can say is this , I hope he learns from this and do hats legit in the area of football development
I am very happy for you Sia1. No condition is permanent, you will survive it by God’s grace. God bless Nigeria!!!
siasia thank God for you.we cant wait to see you back in football activities we are the real nigerians and we are happy for you.
Thank God the ban will elapsed on 16th August 2024. We are waiting to see one of Nigeria indigenous best coaches.
Congratulations my Brother.