FIFA Ban: Coach Samson Siasia Finally Opens Up on Details That Landed Him in Trouble

• Samson Siasia says he never knew whom he was dealing with while trying to get a job in Australia
• The Nigerian coach was banned for life by FIFA before the CAS reduced the duration to five years
• 56-year-old Siasia speaks on how he missed out on the FIFA mail that demanded his explanation

Nigerian coach, Samson Siasia, has opened up on the allegations that saw him banned by the world's football governing body, FIFA.

In 2019, the former Nigerian international was banned from all football-related activities for life and handed an additional fine of 50,000 Swiss Francs.

FIFA found the former Super Eagles handler guilty of accepting an offer to receive bribes in an attempt to manipulate the outcome of matches.

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It was alleged that the former Dream Team coach was involved with a convicted Singaporean serial match-fixer, Wilson Perumal.

Siasia appealed the ban and in 2021, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) reduced the life ban to five years and also dismissed the 50,000 Swiss Francs fine.

In a chat during the latest episode of ATHLST, Siasia also expressed disappointment that the NFF failed to support him during his difficult times.

Narrating all that transpired, the 1994 AFCON winner said he was only trying to get a coaching job in Australia, adding that he also did not see the email sent to him by FIFA.

He said, as per Punch:

“I spoke with someone who was trying to hire me as a coach in Australia. I didn’t know the guy was a match-fixer, but FIFA knew this guy. Why would they allow him to be around any FIFA tournament?

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“So, when they found out through emails, our correspondence about how this guy would take me to Australia, I played in Australia, so I felt it would be nice to go back there.

“We talked about how much salaries, transfers, bonuses, and sign-on fees were, and that was all.

“When FIFA was looking for me, I didn’t even know. Then they sent me a letter, but it went to my spam."

Siasia set for return

Sports Brief earlier reported that Former Super Eagles player and coach Samson Siasia has stated that he has learnt his lessons following the FIFA ban that saw him away from football-related activities since 2019.

By August 2024, the ban will lapse as he is expected to return to football-related activities.

Siasia remains one of the finest coaches Nigeria has ever produced, having handled the national teams at different levels.