FIFA ban: ‘I have learned my Lessons’ – Ex-Super Eagles Coach Samson Siasia
Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has disclosed that he has learnt his lessons following his ban from football in 2019. This he disclosed during a radio interview with Kenis on 104.1 fm.
In 2019 the Federation of International Football Association, banned Siasia from all football activities throughout his lifetime and fined him $50,000 after he admmitted match manipulation for betting purposes.
Siasia was banned by FIFA following investigation which revealed that the Nigerian coach and Wilson Perumal tried to fix match back end.
He appealed the lifetime ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sports, and it was reduced to five years in 2021. The ban is set to lapse in 2024.
“I thought I was going to be free by this year (2023), and I was so excited, irrespective of what happened, I have learned my lessons, but FIFA, who initially gave me a life ban in football, could not prove anything wrong with what they claimed I did. But they had to reduce it to a five-year ban, and it will expire next year. I thank God for that.
“It has been terrible to be away from football for five years, but I am preparing myself to come back to football, so I have to prepare myself so I can start ‘running’ once I resume by next year” he said.
