Glenn Hoddle alleged that he was asked to arrange a bung in connection with the Nigeria manager's job. Photograph: John Walton/Empics Sports Photography Ltd.


Glenn Hoddle's decision to walk away from a near-£1m contract to manage Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup has sparked a corruption investigation. Nigerian police are seeking statements from Hoddle and the agent who represented him, Olatunji John Shittu.

The police will also talk to Lars Lagerback, the former Sweden coach who took the job, and executives from the Nigeria Football Federation and the national sports commission.

Hoddle is believed to have claimed to the Nigerian state authorities that he came under pressure to arrange a bung for one of his new employers. Hoddle's allegation is said to be that, having agreed a US$1m (£650,000) short-term deal last month, an official told him it would be announced as US$1.5m.

Hoddle, who has not responded to attempts by the Guardian to contact him on the matter, was informed he would have to return the £325,000 difference as a kickback.

The former England manager is said to have refused. Dr Bukola Saraki, a Nigerian state governor, says Hoddle approached him to report the incident before returning to the UK from Abuja. "When we met, Hoddle complained that he was asked to part with US$500,000 out of his US$1.5m [the contract fee to be paid] and that was the only way to do business in Nigeria," Saraki said.

An investigation by the Presidential Task Force for the 2010 World Cup found no wrongdoing. But now, according to its spokesman Femi Babafemi, Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched a formal inquiry.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/mar/18/glenn-hoddle-nigeria-police-investigation

Jesus Christ

how they expected the guy not talk after the whole show is crazy

these lots shd be sent to maximum security prisons when proven guilty

maggots

So how much is lagerback paying the NFA- I guess one should expect mediocracy from the upcoming SE games in south Africa due to the fact the present coach was not appointed on merit, Everything jaja jaja for Nigeria

blacksta:

So how much is lagerback paying the NFA- I guess one should expect mediocracy from the upcoming SE games in south Africa due to the fact the present coach was not appointed on merit, Everything jaja jaja for Nigeria

i dont think hoddle is better than laggerback
in fact, Hoddle shouldnt even be running to coach Nigeria abeg

he can coach benin republic but not the Super Eagles

They are all the same corrupt bunch.

nigeria we hail thee

can the efcc as a matter of urgency bring closure to this case as quickly as it was masterminded. it wouldn't make sense for them to 'investigate' this case for 2years when the whole drama happened in 2weeks.

saraki is aware and didnt report or get the persons name.

dustydee:

saraki is aware and didnt report or get the persons name.

how a sitting governor gets involved in nff matters beats me.

$500k. This is more than #75m. Nigeria, we hail thee. NFF, we hail thee

desgiezd:

$500k. This is more than #75m. Nigeria, we hail thee. NFF, we hail thee

for no work done.

This is probably the reason Carlos Alberto Perera turned down the eagles manager job during d Abacha era.

Nigeria. The joke of the world

This is 2002 all over, when NFA claimed that they were only paid $300k by FIFA, out of $1m WC preparation grant. FIFA flared up and the FA denied they ever said so. Naija na wa.

tkb417:

i dont think hoddle is better than laggerback
in fact, Hoddle shouldnt even be running to coach Nigeria abeg

he can coach benin republic but not the Super Eagles

How many cups has largerback won The man has no record of any achievement. All he has done is long year of experience being a failed coach.

The only reason we hired a Foreign Coach 3 months to world cup is because of corruption. I hope largerback does us all a favour and resign.

When Largerback went to submit his contract papers to Fifa stating how much his contract states he must be paid. I knew something was fishy. The man was simply protecting himself against the corrupt and unholy agreements he got into before he was announced as our coach.

Largerback should go home. Let Siasia and his under23 go and represent us at the world cup, afterall thats what largerback wants to build his team around anyway.

snowdrops:

Nigeria. The joke of the world

Its so sad when we cannot do business with each other and foreigners without searing our consciences.

Nigerians abroad have to keep taking the brunt of insults and demeaning jokes about the endemic corruption back home.

A turkish work colleague recently told me that it is a fact that Nigeria is the number one leader in fraud and drug crimes worldwide.

I am ashamed.

Nigeria has no business with worldcup funding etc.

We have enough hungry people to feed.

worldcup should be strictly 'private companies' affair.