Samson Siasia Criticizes Nigerian Football Federation Over FIFA Ban for Match-Fixing Allegations

Samson Siasia, a former Nigerian football coach, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) for their lack of support during his FIFA ban for alleged match-fixing in 2019. Siasia, who has achieved significant success with the Nigerian national team, was handed a five-year ban by FIFA in August 2019 after being accused of involvement in match-fixing.

According to Siasia, the NFF failed to stand by him during this challenging period and even carried out FIFA's instructions to withhold information from him about the ongoing investigation. "The NFF abandoned me in my time of need," Siasia stated, emphasizing the federation's lack of support.

The former coach maintains that the allegations of bribery were unfounded and that he was unaware of the match-fixer's activities. Siasia claims that he was not informed about the investigation until it was too late for him to have a proper hearing, making it difficult for him to defend himself against the accusations.

Siasia faced additional challenges in appealing the ban, as he struggled to find a sports lawyer in Nigeria who could assist him with the legal proceedings. Despite presenting evidence to FIFA, Siasia's lawsuit against the organization in the United States was ultimately dismissed.

Why this matters: Siasia's case highlights the challenges faced by coaches and players when accused of match-fixing, particularly in terms of receiving adequate support from their national football federations. The incident also raises questions about the transparency and fairness of FIFA's investigation and disciplinary processes.

Siasia, who is regarded as one of Nigeria's best coaches, has an impressive track record, having guided the U20 and U23 national teams to silver medals in major tournaments. His ban is set to end in August 2024, five years after it was initially imposed by FIFA. The NFF has not yet provided an official response to Siasia's criticism regarding their handling of his case.

Key Takeaways

• Samson Siasia, ex-Nigerian coach, criticizes NFF for lack of support during FIFA ban.
• Siasia was banned for 5 years in 2019 for alleged match-fixing, claims allegations were unfounded.
• NFF failed to support Siasia, even withholding information about the ongoing investigation.
• Siasia faced challenges in appealing the ban, including finding a sports lawyer in Nigeria.
• Siasia's case highlights issues with transparency and fairness of FIFA's disciplinary processes.