Fans React to Salisu One Year Ban, Berate NFF

Festus Abu The Nigeria Football Federation has banned Super Eagles assistant coach Salisu Yusuf for one year after he was caught on camera accepting cash from men posing as football agents to select two players for his Morocco 2018 African Nations Championship squad. Salisu was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 by the federation after the NFF Ethics and Fair Play Committee ruled that he indeed received $1,000 from the men. BSN Sports exclusively reported on August 2, 2018 the NFF had decided to axe the 56-year-old as the leaders of the federation were not happy about the BBC footage which implicated Salisu, who doubles as manager of the national Under-23 team. In the video, Salisu promised the agents that he would pick the players for the tournament after he was handed the money. The two players were selected for the tournament where Nigeria emerged as runners-up but the ethics committee chaired by Nuhu Ribadu said there was no evidence the money influenced the former Enyimba coach’s decision. “The committee found as a fact that it was not an error of judgment on the part of Salisu Yusuf but a conscious and deliberate decision to have accepted the cash gift of $1,000 from the decoy player agent/undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, even though the evidence before the committee did not establish that his conduct influenced the choice of the two players,” the report released by the NFF on Wednesday said. “He is hereby banned for the period of one year from partaking or involving or participating in any football-related activity, effective from the date of this decision. “He is also fined in the sum of $5,000 to be paid within three months of the date of this decision.” The committee, who frowned upon Salisu’s action, said the development has had “a damaging effect on the reputation and integrity of Nigerian football”. The report added, “He ought to have conducted himself more professionally… as his conduct in public and in secret should be exemplary, since coaches are role models.” The former Kano pillars manager, who has since denied any wrongdoing, said in July that he received $750, not $1,000, insisting it was a gift. Meanwhile, some football fans on social media have expressed their anger over the one-year ban placed on Salisu. The majority of Twitter users who commented on the development insisted the coach deserved more than a one-year ban from football. “A one-year ban is a slap on the wrist for Salisu Yusuf in my opinion,” @TheOddSolace wrote on Twitter, according to Pulse.ng. “One-year ban for that level of national embarrassment is way too mild. Not good enough from the NFF. Salisu Yusuf should be dealt with more than this,” @TheWaleAgbede said. @Onos_147 wrote, “Salisu Yusuf should not be allowed around football again after this disgraceful act. One-year ban and $5,000 fine… it’s a shame to our country. The NFF is a Joke.” “The NFF suspending Salisu Yusuf for one year with a $5,000 fine goes to show you that even with evidence/proof, our corrupt government officials will only be flogged on their palm and allowed to go back into governance. Ah ah!” @LegitNigerian wrote.