By Niyi Busari
Former Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Samson Siasia, will know his fate on the FIFA life ban on all football activities judgment in April 2021.
FIFA had given the ex-international life ban from all football activities following an allegation of match-fixing involving the Nigerian national team.
The FIFA statement read thus “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,” part of the FIFA statement read.
FIFA says the proceedings against Siasia stemmed from an ‘extensive investigation into matches that’ a certain Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes.
Siasia had totally denied the allegation by FIFA saying he did not collect any bribe to fix any match and that he only negotiated terms after being headhunted by someone who approached him for a coaching job.
He never knew and could not have known the man was involved or convicted for match-fixing. He has not seen or heard from the man since the canceled negotiations back in April 2010 until he read about his life ban by FIFA in the media last August.
Siasia has since run to CAS to Appeal FIFA’s ban and the Appeal has suffered postponements due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Siasia yesterday said that a new and final date has now been picked by CAS to first hear the Appeal on February 3rd, 2021, and in April 2021 will now make the final Award (verdict) on the case.
“They (CAS) said the second phase of the Coronavirus is coming strongly in Europe and they might shut down. So they have postponed the hearing of the Appeal to February 3rd, 2021. So whatever happens they (CAS) are going to give the Award (verdict) in April 2021.
“The only question is how can I survive till that time because by that April 2021 it would be a year and eight months since I have made the Appeal to CAS. You know this process started last year in August. They keep postponing and they have refused to give me stay of execution”, Siasia told Sportinglife.
