‘I don’t respond to damaged people’ – Mikel’s Former Agent Responds to Siasia’s ‘Bribe’ Accusations
John Shittu, the former agent of ex-Super Eagles star John Mikel Obi, has strongly denied claims made by former Nigeria U23 coach, Samson Siasia.
Siasia recently said that Shittu offered him €50,000 to include Mikel in Nigeria’s squad for the 2008 Olympics, even though Mikel didn’t play in the qualifiers. According to Siasia, he refused the money and left Mikel out of the team, which later went on to win a silver medal.
Speaking to The Cable, Shittu dismissed the claims and said Siasia has already called to apologise for making the remarks.
“I am one of the most respected agents in football,” Shittu said. “I don’t get involved with people who are damaged or insignificant.”
The comments come as a public row brews between the former coach and the agent, both of whom played important roles in Nigerian football during that period.
Shittu’s remarks about Siasia may be connected to his recent travails with FIFA.
In 2019, FIFA found Siasia guilty of having accepted that he would receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches, a violation of its code of ethics.
As a result, he was handed a life ban from all football-related activities along with a fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000).
The sanction was later reduced to a five-year ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He has served the ban and is back to football.