Match Fixing: Siasia Fails in Fresh Bid to Quash FIFA Ban in USA

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Banned former Super Eagles Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has failed in his fresh bid to quash the lifetime ban (later reduced to five years by CAS), slammed on him by FIFA for attempting to fix matches.

Last Friday, a U.S. District Judge, Alvin Hellerstein, ruled that he had “no conceivable basis” to exercise jurisdiction in Manhattan federal court because the dispute took place outside the United States and was decided under Swiss law, while Siasia lived in Atlanta.

Siasia’s lawyer, Nitor Egbarin, had no immediate reaction to the pronouncement, having yet to review the decision of the court.

FIFA had in 2019 found Siasia guilty of violating its code of ethics by accepting to work in the Australian League to the dictates of a serial match-fixer, (the contract didn’t eventually happen).

In June, the Court of Arbitration for Sport shortened Siasia’s ban and lifted his 50,000 Swiss franc (US$54,585) fine, calling the lifetime ban too severe for a first offence.

Although the life ban was reduced to five years by CAS, Siasia sued FIFA in August, saying the case against him was based on “grossly insufficient evidence” consisting exclusively of emails that were “never explained” to FIFA, and that he was not allowed to cross-examine witnesses.

He said FIFA’s probe was an improper exercise of “government function,” violating his rights under the U.S. Constitution, federal civil rights law and state law.

But in defence, FIFA said Siasia’s lawsuit did not belong in any U.S. court, and that his claims were meritless.

Siasia, 54, was a striker for Nigeria’s national team, the Super Eagles before turning to coaching.