Corruption: NFF bans coach Salisu Yusuf for one year

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Committee on Ethics and Fair Play, on Wednesday, banned Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Salisu Yusuf, from all football–related activities for one year.

The ban takes immediate effect.

He was also ordered to pay the fine of $5,000 to NFF within a period of three months.

Yusuf’s ban was announced in a statement issued by NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire.

Malam Nuhu Ribadu was chairman of the committee, Mr. Joshua Onoja was secretary, while Mainasara Illo and Rev. Justin Okoroji were members.

Super Eagles Coach Salisu Yusuf

 The decisions were reached following the findings in a probe carried out on the case of corruption in which he was recorded to be accepting 1,000 US dollars from an undercover reporter who disguised as a player’s agent.

The submissions by the committee read:

“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 US dollars 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 Yusuf but a conscious and deliberate decision to have accepted the cash gift of 1,000 US dollars 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 per cent 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.”

The committee’s decision reads:  “In accordance with Art. 22, FIFA Disciplinary Code, he is hereby banned for the period of one year, from partaking or involvement or participation in any football related activity, effective from the date of this decision.

“He is also fined in the sum of 5,000 US dollars to be paid within three (3) months beginning from the date of this decision.”

Meanwhile, the committee gave an opportunity of appeal.

Yusuf, it was stated, could approach the NFF Appeals Committee to challenge the decision of the ethics committee.