Yusuf’s bribery scandal: The honourable thing to do

The wind sweeping through Africa’s corrupt football governance structure that has seen the res-ignation or sacking of many officials including the Ghanaian Football Association Chairman fi-nally birthed in Nigeria. It did not come to many who knew the workings of football in Nigeria when the London-based British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) aired footages of the Nigeria’s head coach, Salisu Yusuf, allegedly receiving bribe from agents of Ghanaian undercover journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The deal, according the video, was to ensure that two unnamed players are included in Nigeria’s squad at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2018 in Morocco. Yusuf was given a thousand dollars and promised 15 percent of future contracts those players will sign.

Watchers of Nigeria’s football industry have often alluded to financial improprieties between Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and coaches in determining which players make it to the na-tional team. Similarly, match-fixing is the order of the day in the Nigerian Professional Football League. In 2013, Nigeria set a world record in match fixing after two lower league clubs chasing promotion and needing to boost their goal differences won game 79-0 and 67-0. Despite the scandal and the global shame, match-fixing and unethical practices have continued unabated in our football. It is generally known in Nigeria that a home team, no matter how poor or how badly they play, never loses a match.

It will also be recalled that during the build-up to the selection of the 2022 World Cup host na-tion, former Conferation of African Football (CAF) and International Football Federation (FIFA) executive member, Amos Adamu, was caught on camera allegedly receiving bribes from Qataris officials in order to vote in favour of Qatar. He has since been banned by FIFA.

Anas’ investigation was meant to expose the corruption rot and scandals rocking Football Asso-ciations (FAs) and match officials in African football. Others accused in the video include former Ghana’s FA president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, Kenyan referee, Aden Marwa, among others. Fol-lowing the allegation, Aden who was billed to officiate in Russia 2018 resigned and left the mundial. The government of Ghana went a step further by dissolving the FA citing the “wide-spread nature of the apparent rot.” Both Kwesi and Aden have exited the football scenes of their countries.

FIFA, CAF and NFF’s code of ethics frown at officials collecting enticement in order to influence any natural decision in the football circle.

Articles 10-12 of FIFA’s “Rules of Conduct”, which deals specifically with gifts, bribery and corruption, say in part: “Officials are not permitted to accept gifts and other benefits that exceed the average relative value of local cultural customs from any third parties. If in doubt, gifts shall be declined. Accepting gifts of cash in any amount or form is prohibited.

“Officials may not accept bribes; in other words, any gifts or other advantages that are offered, promised or sent to them to incite breach of duty or dishonest conduct for the benefit of a third party shall be refused.

“Officials are forbidden from accepting commission or promises of such commission for negoti-ating deals of any kind while performing their duties, unless the presiding body has expressly permitted them to do so. In the absence of such a presiding body, the body to which the official belongs shall decide.”

Let us be clear about this; FIFA’s definition of “Officials”, according to its website, include “…coach, trainer and any other person responsible for technical, medical and administrative mat-ters” of football. Yusuf definitely falls into this category.

The honourable thing for Yusuf to do is to resign like all the others exposed by Anas. But like the Nigerian that he is, he has so far refused to resign or even accept that he did anything wrong.

For long, players and agents in Nigerian have been accusing coaches and FA officials of de-manding bribes from them before they are called up to represent the country. The media is also rife with allegations the criteria of being called to the national team is not current form or per-formance but the ability of the players’ agent to sufficiently settle national team coaches.

The scandal is a litmus test for the NFF to prove its credibility to the world and to demonstrate that Yusuf acted independently without the knowledge of his employer, the NFF.