Siasia a liar, collected cash from FG to fight FIFA ban: Sports Minister
Ex-Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia is a liar, says Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare, accusing Mr Siasia of receiving cash from governors and the federal government to upturn his FIFA ban.
On Tuesday, Mr Dare insisted that his ministry did not abandon Mr Siasia as the former Eagles player claimed. Mr Siasia said Mr Dare and the sports ministry abandoned him after his FIFA ban for match-fixing.
John Joshua-Akanji, the minister’s media aide, said in a statement that contrary to insinuations by Mr Siasia that he was abandoned, Mr Dare raised money for him.
“The ministry, through the Minister, was able to raise the money which Siasia personally collected while he was also connected to persons and entities who raised money to assist him in appealing his case at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
“In response to concerted appeal launched by the minister, the governors of Lagos, Edo and Delta made available money which was handed over to Siasia at different times. A couple of individuals, at the instance of the Minister, also raised money which was handed to him in cash,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the minister also rallied round to ensure Mr Siasia got a fair hearing from CAS.
“The minister stayed on top of the case by pulling all strings to assist Siasia,” explained the statement. “In addition to the governors of Edo, Delta and Lagos, he (Dare) made an appeal to Governor Kayode Fayemi who is the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Ekiti state governor.”
It added that the minister took Mr Siasia on a visit to the then Bayelsa governor, Seriake Dickson, to appeal for support for him.
“Siasia’s claim that government did nothing to assist him is untrue, deceitful, and misleading.
“While there are no budgetary provisions for such incidents, the ministry and the office of the minister gave Siasia all the support that led to the mitigation of his life ban from football-related activities,” the statement added.
Mr Siasia had recently claimed he did not get the necessary support from some quarters, including the sports ministry and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to upturn his FIFA ban.
CAS recently upturned Mr Siasia’s life ban by FIFA, reducing it to five years after filing an appeal at the global sports court.
(NAN)
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