Samson Siasia asserted that he has learned his lesson after FIFA 5 years ban for his involvement in match-fixing around 2019. The former Super Eagles player and manager was initially banned for life by FIFA, but in 2021 his ban was reduced to 5 years and the $50,000 removed.
Siasia while speaking with Punch, said he didn’t know his ban still extended until next year after thinking it should have ended this year.
“I thought I was going to be free this year (2023) 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.”
