The Nigerian Minister for Sports Sunday Dare has taken a swipe at Samson Siasia, former coach of the Super Eagles who recently had his suspension from all football matters reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
Siasia was banned for life by FIFA for allegedly getting involved in match fixing while at the helm as coach of the Nigerian team but CAS overturn the initial sentence seven days ago.
In its ruling CAS reduced the ban to five years and reversed the initial 50,000 Swiss Franc fine slammed on him by FIFA after a statement exonerating the coach from taking bribe to fix game. His decision not to report the approach was why he was handled a light sentence by CAS.
Three days ago, Siasia granted an interview where he claimed he got no support from the Nigerian government particularly the minister for Sports Sunday Dare.
“This my issue is a government problem but up till today, we know Buhari is the President. The Minister of Sports when he came in, I met him, he told me he knew about my problem but they don’t have money and that was it. I thought what he would have done is go to the President. I am a legend, I have played, broke my leg for this country and also coached.
“The Nigerian government has not done well when it comes to my case,” Siasia said at a press conference in Abuja.
Reacting to Siasia’s claim, Dare said the former Nantes of France winger is not telling the truth and the ministry and the government will come out with a statement soon on the money given to him to fight his case.
“ Siasia is not telling the truth and the ministry and the government will come out with the fact of the cash he collected, of the effort we made. He is not telling the truth”, Dare said in an interview made available to OwnGoalNigeria.com.
