By Uzor Odigbo
Football fans across the country Nigerians have expressed displeasure at the one year ban clamped by the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) ban on Salisu Yusuf.
The former Super Eagles coach Yusuf, 56, was suspended for one year with a fine of $5,000, payable within the next three months, following its conclusion of an investigation into bribery allegations.
Video footage of Yusuf allegedly collecting a cash gift from investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who posed as a representative of Tiger Eye Agency to influence the selection of two players, had surfaced in July.
However, the coach initially denied any wrongdoing, insisting he only accepted the money as a gift, and not as an inducement in the selection of the players supposedly represented by the undercover reporter.
The Ethics Committee, chaired by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in a report submitted to the NFF Secretariat on Tuesday, stated that from Salisu’s subsequent admission and documented video evidence of receiving $1,000, it was a deliberate decision to accept the cash.
However, Nigerians believe the ex-Kano Pillars boss should have received more years of absence in football activities.
The former Super Eagles coach Yusuf, 56, was suspended for one year with a fine of $5,000, payable within the next three months, following its conclusion of an investigation into bribery allegations.
Video footage of Yusuf allegedly collecting a cash gift from investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who posed as a representative of Tiger Eye Agency to influence the selection of two players, had surfaced in July.
However, the coach initially denied any wrongdoing, insisting he only accepted the money as a gift, and not as an inducement in the selection of the players supposedly represented by the undercover reporter.
The Ethics Committee, chaired by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, in a report submitted to the NFF Secretariat on Tuesday, stated that from Salisu’s subsequent admission and documented video evidence of receiving $1,000, it was a deliberate decision to accept the cash.
However, Nigerians believe the ex-Kano Pillars boss should have received more years of absence in football activities.
