FIFA bans former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia over match fixing

Samson Siasia. (File Photo: IANS)


Former Nigeria national team coach Samson Siasia has been banned by FIFA for life following a match-fixing probe.

FIFA, in a statement on Friday, said that the adjudicatory chamber of their independent Ethics Committee found that Siasia was guilty of having accepted bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics.

The former international played 51 times as a striker for the Nigerian national team and later coached various national youth sides.

According to FIFA, the formal ethics proceedings against Siasia were initiated on 11 February, 2019 and stem from an extensive investigation into matches that Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes.

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.

The decision was notified to Mr Siasia on Friday, the date on which the ban came into force.

Siasia was appointed Super Eagles head coach from 2010 to 2011. He was reappointed for a short spell in 2016.