By Andrew Warshaw
October 22- Amos Adamu, the discredited former Nigerian powerbroker banned for three years by Fifa, has served his time but says he is in no hurry to get back into football.
Adamu was kicked out for what FIFA termed an ethics violation in relation to the votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
In a sting by a British newspaper, he was filmed asking undercover reporters for $800,000, saying he wanted the money paid to him personally so he could finance pitches in Nigeria. As a result, he was barred from taking part in either World Cup ballot.
Adamu, a former National Sports Commission director general, said he was now “a different person, wiser than before.”
“My interest is not to rush back to the international federations,” the Nigerian was quoted as saying by AllAfrica.com, “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. I hold no grudge against anyone.”
A series of corruption scandals implicating Adamu and a number of other exco members plunged Fifa into turmoil just weeks before the votes which saw Russia chosen to host the 2018 World Cup and Qatar selected for the 2022 event.
Adamu twice failed in appeals against his sanction and when the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected his second appeal it said the original punishment was “even relatively mild given the seriousness of the offence”.
Adamu was arguably the most powerful African administrator after Confederation of African Football (CAF) chief Issa Hayatou, being both a FIFA Executive Committee member and President of the West African Football Union (WAFU). He says he will now be delving more into sports business rather than administration.
“My focus is different now. Those expecting me to rush back into football administration will be disappointed. I want to engage serious business in sports.”