BRIBERY SCANDAL: Yusuf Salisu handed 1yr ban, $5,000 fine

Super Eagles coach, Yusuf Salisu has been handed a one-year ban and a fine of $5,000 by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The 56-year old will not participate in any football-related activity in one year and the fine must be paid to the Federation within three months.

This was the decision reached by the Ethics committee of the NFF after the found Yusuf culpable following a video footage broadcast which showed him accepting money, in return for favour, from undercover reporters posing as football agents.

The footage broadcast by BBC Africa Eye last July which was said to be captured in September 2017 by controversial journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, captured Yusuf receiving $1000 to include Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali in his team to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) last February in Morocco.

Yusuf immediately denied the allegation, insisting that he did not promise or commit to selecting any player for the competition, but the NFF commenced preliminary investigation into the matter by the end of July.

Read Also: NFF begins investigation of bribery allegation on Salisu Yusuf

In its report submitted to the NFF Secretariat on Tuesday, day after they invited the coach to state his own side of the story, the Committee headed by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu states as follows:

“Established from the admission of coach Salisu Yusuf and also found as a fact from the documentary and video evidence before it, that he accepted the cash gift of $1,000 offered by Tigers Player’s Agency, an undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, for their inclusion in the list of players for 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco.

“The Committee found as a fact that it was not an error of judgment on the part of Coach Salisu Yusuf,mbut a conscious and deliberate decision to have accepted the cash gift of $1,000 from the decoy player agent/undercover reporter, purportedly interested in acting on behalf of Players Osas Okoro and Rabiu Ali, even though the evidence before the Committee did not establish that his conduct influenced the choice of the two players.

“That the two Players could have made the team to 2018 CHAN Competition in Morocco on the basis of their talent and performance.

“That Coach Salisu Yusuf did not accept the offer of 15% of the anticipated transfer fees of the said players, as there was no follow –up action on the promise.

“That the act of the Coach, which was widely published on the British Broadcasting Corporation, has a damaging effect on the reputation and integrity of Nigerian Football, as he ought to have conducted himself more professionally in line with the Code of Conduct signed alongside his Contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, as his conduct in public and in secret should be exemplary, since coaches are role models.

“That the FIFA Code of Ethics, NFF Code of Ethics and FIFA Disciplinary Code, did not contemplate negligence or error of judgment as a defence to violation of any of the provisions as contained therein, as punitive measures must be adopted to serve as deterrent to other intending offenders, even though, that he is a first time offender.”

 

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