The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has reduced the life ban imposed on former Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia to five years.
The body also overturned the fine of 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000) describing it as inappropriate and excessive.
The 53-year-old former Super Eagles star was initially sanctioned in August 2019 by FIFA for agreeing to “receive bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches but he appealed against the ban by the football’s governing body, denying the charges.
But CAS in its decision on Monday said a life ban for Siasia was “disproportionate” for a passive offence that did not fetch him any money.
In a statement released by CAS, the decision to reduce the life ban to five years followed the appeal filed by Siasia over the decision of FIFA on April 11 to ban him as a coach for life over his involvement in bribery for fixing a match in 2010.
With this development, Siasia’s ban expires in August 2024.
(THE NATION)
