Former Nigeria national team coach Samson Siasia has been banned for life from all football-related activities by FIFA’s Ethics Committee for agreeing to accept bribes related to the manipulation of matches.
The investigation stems from an ongoing inquiry into the activities of convicted Singaporean match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal. Siasia, who coached Nigeria’s senior team in two separate spells (2010–2011 and 2016) and also managed the country’s U-20 and U-23 sides, was found guilty of violating the FIFA Code of Ethics.
While the specific time frame of Siasia’s offenses remains unclear, the sanction includes a lifetime ban from all football activities at national and international levels, plus a fine of CHF 50,000 (US$50,000). Siasia becomes the third African official or former official to be banned by FIFA due to links with Perumal.
Siasia has yet to comment on the ruling. As a former international player, he was a member of Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad.
