My FIFA ban ends in August 2024; I’ve learnt my lesson, says Siasia
Former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia has disclosed that he is getting prepared for his return to football ahead of the expiration of his ban by the world football governing body, FIFA, in August 2024.
Admitting that it has been terrible being away from the round leather game, the ex-national team player added that he has learnt his lessons during his absence from football.
Recall that in 2019, FIFA handed a life ban from all football-related activities to Siasia and fined him $50,000.
The ban followed an investigation into an attempted match-fixing by him and one Wilson Perumal.
Siasia appealed the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sports, and in 2021, his life ban was reduced to five years.
In an interview on Kennis FM, Siasia said, “I thought I was going to be free by this year, and I was so excited.”
“But I had to look through the document that FIFA served me, and I found out that it was going to be next year. By next year, in August 2024, I will be free from the FIFA ban, and hopefully, I will be back to football.
“Irrespective of what happened, I have learned my lessons, but FIFA, who initially gave me a life ban in football, could not prove anything wrong with what they claimed I did. But they had to reduce it to a five-year ban, and it will expire next year. I thank God for that.
“It has been terrible to be away from football for five years, but I am preparing myself to come back to football, so I have to prepare myself so I can start ‘running’ once I resume by next year,” he stated.
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