By Kenneth Labaran
365Daily – An American court has struck out an appeal filed by former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, challenging his five-year ban from football-related activities by FIFA.
Siasia had been handed a lifetime ban by FIFA, which was later reduced to five years by an arbitration court, for taking bribes to fix matches.
The Sun reports that U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein said he had “no conceivable basis” to exercise jurisdiction in Manhattan federal court because the dispute took place outside the United States and was decided under Swiss law, and Siasia lived in Atlanta.
It added that Nitor Egbarin, lawyer to Siasia, had no immediate comment, having yet to review the decision.
Siasia sued FIFA in August, saying 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.
He arguee that the investigation that led to his indictment was an improper exercise of “government function,” and violated his rights under the U.S. Constitution, federal civil rights law and state law.
However, FIFA responded that the ex-Nigerian Olympics coach’s lawsuit did not belong in any U.S. court, and that his claims lacked merit.