A US Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former Nigeria national team coach, Samson Siasia challenging his lifetime ban by FIFA for match fixing.
Alvin Hellerstein, U.S. District Judge said he had no basis to exercise jurisdiction in Manhattan Federal Court because the dispute between Siasia and FIFA took place outside the United States and was decided under Swiss law, irrespective of the fact that Siasia lived in Atlanta.
FIFA banned Siasia for life in 2019 for violated its code of ethics by engaging in a bribery scheme related to a plan to fix Australian matches.
Siasia sued FIFA in August 2021, arguing that the case against him was based on “grossly insufficient evidence” consisting exclusively of emails that were “never explained” to FIFA, and that he was not allowed to cross-examine witnesses.
Siaia insisted that the FIFA’s probe was an improper exercise of “government function,” violating his rights under the U.S. Constitution, federal civil rights law and state law.
According to FIFA, Siasia’s lawsuit did not belong in any U.S. court, and that his claims were meritless.
