Court reject Samson Siasia appeal

By Agency Report

Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia have had his appeal challenging his five-year ban from football-related activities by FIFA rejected and thrown out by United States of America Court.

The former Nigeria male Olympics Team coach had gone to the US Court to appeal his five year ban by FIFA from football.

Siasia challenging his lifetime ban which was later reduced to five years, for fixing matches.

The Sun reports that U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said he had “no conceivable basis” to exercise jurisdiction in Manhattan federal court because the dispute took place outside the United States and was decided under Swiss law, and Siasia lived in Atlanta.

Nitor Egbarin, a lawyer for Siasia, had no immediate comment, having yet to review the decision.

FIFA had in 2019 found that Siasia violated its code of ethics by engaging in a bribery scheme related to a plan to fix Australian matches.

Siasia sued FIFA in August, saying the case against him was based on “grossly insufficient evidence” consisting exclusively of emails that were “never explained” to FIFA, and that he was not allowed to cross-examine witnesses.

He said FIFA’s probe was an improper exercise of “government function,” violating his rights under the U.S. Constitution, federal civil rights law and state law.

FIFA said Siasia’s lawsuit did not belong in any U.S. court, and that his claims were meritless.