By Sylvanus Ofekun

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has reduced the life time ban on Nigerian coach Samson Siasia to five years.
Siasia was given a life time ban on any football activities by FIFA in August,2019 after it’s committee found him guilty of march fixing.With CAS ruling on Monday.

The 53 year old appealed the verdict of football’s governing body and CAS as he denied the charges against him.

CAS “determined the imposition of a life ban to be disproportionate for a first offence which was committed passively and which had not had an adverse or immediate effect on football stakeholders, and that a five-year ban would still achieve the envisaged aim of punishing the infringement committed by Mr. Siasia.”

The ban has been backdated to start on 16 August 2019 as the court explained the background to the case.

Coach Siasia will be free to engage in football-related activities as from August 2024.
The ruling also set aside his 50,000 Swiss Frans fine.