When will Samson Siasia`s FIFA Ban end
He is one of Nigeria`s best indigeneous football coaches and so a lot of Nigerians will definitely be worried over when the FIFA ban handed down to Samson Siasia in 2019 will end.
In this report, Caretaker presents details of the ban and when the Beijing Olympics silver-winning Coach will be off the hook.
WHY WAS HE BANNED
As revealed by CAS, in 2010, a match-fixer tried to involve Siasia as a coach of an unnamed Austrialian A league club under his strict instructions.
With the promise of employment benefits, Siasia was expected to field several players under the control of the match-fixer. The negotiations between the match-fixer and Siasia in relation to the conditions of employment were conducted by email over a period of two months.
Eventually, the Australian club did not accept or could not afford Mr Siasia’s requests and so negotiations broke down. Following revelations of the interaction between the match fixer and the former Super Eagles handler, FIFA elected to punish the latter.
DURATION OF THE BAN
In 2019, the Federation of International Football Associations – FIFA slapped a life ban on Samson Siasia.
Following appeals by the Nigerian coach, the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in 2021 reduced the ban to five years.
“Mr Siasia is banned for 5 (five) years from taking part in any kind of football-related activity at national and international level (administrative, sports or any other) as of 16 August 2019,” the CAS statement read.
“The imposed fine of CHF 50,000 (fifty thousand Swiss Francs) on Mr Siasia is set aside.
“The Panel determined the imposition of a life ban to be disproportionate for a first offence which was committed passively and which had not had an adverse or immediate effect on football stakeholders, and that a five-year ban would still achieve the envisaged aim of punishing the infringement committed by Mr Siasia.” CAS said.
LIFE OF THE BAN
The ban on Samson Siasia took effect from August 16, 2019 and will expire on August 16, 2024.
AFTER THE HOOK: WHAT NEXT
When the ban expires in August 2024, Siasia will be off the hook and available for opportunities in a game he excelled as a player and later as a coach.
Born on 14 August 1967, Siasia`s ban will expire two days after his 57th birthday.
One of few Nigerian Coaches who have achieved success on National duty, many Nigerians are backing Siasia to get over his travails and return to the dugout.
This well wishes aside from national solidarity are fueled by memories of him managing Nigeria to second place finishes at the 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Co-incidentally, Siasia`s teams were bettered in both tournaments by Lionel Messi inspired Argentina U-20 and U-23 teams.
Siasia was also in charge when Nigeria clinched Bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
