Adamu Free Again, As FIFA Ban Ends

The three-year ban on former Nigeria CAF and FIFA Executive Committee member, Dr. Amos Adamu, slammed on him by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has expired, thus making the Nigerian high profile sports administrator free again to participate in football activities within and outside Nigeria.

The FIFA ban on Adamu, a retired Director General of the National Sports Commission, expired at 12mid night on October 19.

But contrary to expectations, Dr. Adamu has declared that he is not in hurry to return to football administration in CAF, FIFA and WAFU.

'My interest is not to rush back to the international federations, but I am delighted that my ban has expired and I am free to contribute to the development of football and sports generally in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.'

The former WAFU president noted that, he learned lots of lessons during his period of incarceration, and on return now, he would be delving into sports business and not sports administration as it was the case before his ban.

'My focus is different now and those expecting me to rush back to football administration would be disappointed. I want to do serious business in sports. I am now a different person. This is the new Amos Adamu.

'I went through some transformations which had been worthwhile. I am now a different person wiser than before.'

Adamu expressed delight in the supports given to him during the period of his travails by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Sports Ministry and the National Sports Commission (NSC) under the leadership of Professor Taoreed Adedoja who stood firmly to defend him.

'I am also grateful to the leadership of the National Assembly who made frantic efforts to ensure that I was not unjustly incarcerated after presenting them with documented evidences both in print and video.'

The former Director of Sports Development stressed that, his consolation despite the three-year ban was the FIFA action which cleared him of all corruption charges and limited his offence to that of ethics violation.

Adamu was banned in 2010 after the FIFA World Cup in South Africa following a petition sent to the world football governing body by the UK Bid Committee for the FIFA World Cup.