Acting President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi says they will wade into former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia's match-fixing allegation leveled against him by the world governing body, FIFA.
Recall that last week, the FIFA Ethics Committee (Adjudicatory Chamber) placed a life ban on the Siasia, that will prevent him from football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level.
Having received documents on the said allegation, Akinwunmi stated that they have started working on the process with their lawyer and urged the former Atlantic Olympic gold medalist winner in the football event to always make himself available.
“The NFF was shocked to learn of the investigation and the subsequent decision by the FIFA Ethics Committee (Adjudicatory Chamber) placing a life ban on Mr. Samson Siasia. But we have however now received documents, including one known as the Motivated Decision, and we have handed them to our lawyers to study and provide legal advice to the Federation.
“It is a massive sanction on one of our legends. Siasia is a football legend but most importantly he is a Nigerian. We must, therefore, be interested in the matter and be properly advised.”
Akinwunmi added: “Siasia gave his all for Nigeria, playing for the U20 team right from his secondary school days and then for the senior team for several years, and also coaching the U20 and U23 teams and the Super Eagles. While we respect the FIFA processes and appreciate that an investigation was conducted prior to the decision, the least we as a Federation can do is empathize with him at this time, make ourselves available to him and hope that in some way he is able to clear his name as he has promised to do.”
Typical Nigerian response. He is our own not whether he fixed matches.