Siasia loses appeal against FIFA, to see out 5-year ban

Samson Siasia, ex-Super Eagles coach || Imago

SUPER EAGLES Siasia loses appeal against FIFA, to see out 5-year ban

Jidechi Chidiezie 10:58 - 27.01.2023

The former Nigerian national team coach was banned from all football activities for life, in 2019, but had it later reduced to it five years in 2021.

Former Super Eagles head coach Samson Siasia has lost his suit against FIFA in an Appeal Court in the United States, following his 2019 ban from football activities.

On 16 August 2019, the world football governing body banned the former Nigerian national team coach from all football activities for life, but later reduced to it five years in 2021.

Siasia had been found guilty of match-fixing following an investigation by FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee.

The adjudicatory chamber accused Siasia of collecting "bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics". The bribery scheme was revealed to have been for Australian league matches.

Siasia loses appeal against FIFA ban

Siasia, an Atlanta resident had sued FIFA in August 2021, saying the evidence was "grossly insufficient" and that the ban violated his due process rights under the U.S. Constitution.

However, in a 3-0 decision on Thursday, the 2nd United States Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said in a verdict that Siasia - who was prevented from using his U.S. Soccer Federation coaching license to work - did not show why a trial court in New York had jurisdiction over his case.

The Nigerian coach, however, failed to establish that FIFA was "essentially at home" in New York or that it had consented to be sued there because FIFA forbade him from using what Siasia called his "New York" coaching licence obtained from its purported New York "agent," U.S. Soccer, according to the appeals court.

Siasia to see out rest of his ban

Siaisia was originally banned from football for life, but in June 2021, had it reduced to five years after an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, including having the additional fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000, N25 million) cancelled.

After playing in 51 international matches for Nigeria, as well as scoring thirteen goals, participating in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and winning the 1994 African Nations Cup, Siasia went into professional coaching.

played 51 international matches for Nigeria, in which he scored thirteen goals, and was part of the team that participated in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and won the 1994 African Nations Cup. He was also a member of the Nigerian team that won bronze at the 1992 African Nations Cup in Senegal.

The 55-year-old was the under-20 team (Flying Eagles), taking them to the finals of both the 2005 Under-20 World Cup and the U-20 African Youth Championship.

In 2008, he coached Nigeria's Under-23 Olympic team to the football final against Argentina and helped the team earn Olympic Silver medals. Eight years later in Rio, Siasia led Nigeria to an Olympic Bronze medal finish.

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