Match fixing: FIFA slams 2-year ban on Nigerian coach

The coach of Cofine Football Club of Uyo in Akwa Ibom, Remi Amadi, has been slammed with a global ban of two years from all football-related activities.

Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications at Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in a statement on Tuesday said the ban was imposed by world football governing body FIFA.

“The world body’s Disciplinary Committee conveyed this decision to the NFF, and it is a consequence of a similar ban imposed on the coach by the Federation’s Disciplinary Committee at its meeting of August 16,” he said.

Olajire added that the NFF Integrity Unit had forwarded the said decision of the Federation’s Disciplinary Committee and all the relevant documentations to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

“This was done through a letter dated August 25, requesting the Committee to extend the sanction to have a worldwide effect, in accordance with Article 66 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”

The worldwide effect was activated by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee at its meeting of October 5.

Coach Amadi was banned over attempted match manipulation.

Amadi reportedly admitted before the NFF committee that he attempted to manipulate the outcome or result of the match between Cofine FC v. Bussdor FC. The match was played on March 15, 2021 at the University of Calabar Stadium.

“Coach Remi Amadi is found guilty of masterminding the attempted match manipulation between Cofine FC v. Bussdor FC in a match played on 15th March, 2021 at University of Calabar Stadium, Cross Rivers State and is hereby banned for a period of two years from taking part in any football related activities from the 15th March, 2021 until the 14th March, 2023,” the NFF committee said.

His accomplice, Coach Emeka Okoronkwo was fined N500,000, while the result of the match was cancelled.