FIFA Life Ban: CAS Set April Date For Siasia's Appeal Verdict

  FIFA Life Ban: CAS Set April Date For Siasia's Appeal Verdict   By Niyi Busari Former Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Samson Siasia, will know his fate on the FIFA life ban on all football activities judgment  in April 2021. FIFA had given the ex-international life ban from all football activities following allegation of match fixing involving the Nigeria national team. The FIFA statement read thus “In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber found that Mr Siasia had breached art. 11 (Bribery) of the 2009 edition of the FIFA Code of Ethics and banned him for life from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level,” part of the FIFA statement read. FIFA says the proceedings against Siasia stemmed from an ‘extensive investigation into matches that’ a certain Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes. Siasia had totally denied the allegation by FIFA saying he did not collect any bribe to fix any match and that he only negotiated terms after being head hunted by someone who approached him for a coaching job. He never knew and could not have known the man was involved or convicted for match-fixing. He has not seen or heard from the man since the cancelled negotiations back in April 2010 until he read about his life ban by FIFA in the media last August. Siasia has since ran to CAS to Appeal FIFA’s ban and the Appeal has suffered postponements due to Coronavirus pandemic. Siasia yesterday said that a new and final date has now been picked by CAS to first hear the Appeal on the February 3rd, 2021 and in April 2021 will now make final Award (verdict) on the case. “They (CAS) said the second phase of the Coronavirus is coming strongly in Europe and they they might shut down. So they have postponed the hearing of the Appeal to February 3rd, 2021. So whatever happens they (CAS) are going to give the Award (verdict) in April 2021. “The only question is how can I survive till that time because by that April 2021 it would be a year and eight months since I have made the Appeal to CAS. You know this process started last year August. They keep postponing and they have refused to give me stay of execution”, Siasia told Sportinglife.