FG Will Come Out With The Truth Over Siasia FIFA Ban - Minister

FG Will Come Out With The Truth Over Siasia FIFA Ban - Minister By Niyi Busari Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has said that the Federal Government will come out to tell the world the truth about their efforts made to help Samson Siasia out of the life ban handed to him by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), BSNSports.com.ng can report. FIFA had banned former Super Eagles striker and coach, Samson Siasia for life from all football activities for his involvement in fixing an international match. The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) reduced the life ban to five years. The former Flying Eagles coach while thanking CAS said he was not happy with the Minister of Sports and the Federal Government for not taking the issue upon themselves and saved him from the ban. He said, "I thank CAS for what they have done. We're now here, and now two and half years have gone. But I wasn't looking at what CAS has done which I appreciated but another two and half years again without doing anything is not going to be easy. He added, "This my issue suppose to be government problem but up till today, we know Buhari is the president and Minister of Sports (Sunday Dare) when he came in I met him, he said coach, 'I know you have a problem but we don't have money'. I think what he would have done is to take me to the president because I am a legend, I have played and coached the national of this country. If I was an American and played for the country they would take the case upon themselves. The government has not done well when it comes to my case. I am not happy. I don't even know if Buhari doesn't watch Televison or don't know what's going on or the minister is afraid to approach him. "Now they said they gave houses after 27 years and you expect us to jump up and clap? I am very disappointed. I think I have done a bit I can do for this country as an individual." Reacting to Samson Siasia outburst, Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, said the former Nigeria U23 coach is not telling the world the truth adding that the government will come out to state their roles in getting cash for him to facilitate his case in CAS. He said, "Siasia is not telling the truth and the ministry and the government will come out with truth of the cash he collected out of the efforts we made. He's not telling the world the truth." A reliable source close to the Minister corroborated Sunday Dare adding that Samson Siasia got a total of Forty thousand ($40,000) US dollars following efforts by the Minister. He said, "Samson saying that the minister didn't do anything for him over the life ban is not correct. I am aware that the minister used his office to get money from Delta, Edo and Lagos state governments. Also, Sodiq Umar contributed money. Delta State gave him $20,000, Edo through the effort of the minister donated $10,000 while Lagos dolled out $5,000. Then, former U23 striker, Sadiq Umar gave Siasia $5,000, This totaling Forty thousand dollars ($40,000)." Meanwhile, Samson Siasia having spent two and half years already still has to wait for another two and half years before the ban can be lifted.