Brown Ideye Denies Calling For Broke Retired Footballers To Be Jailed

Former Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, has dismissed reports claiming he advocated for retired Nigerian footballers who go broke to be imprisoned.

Brown Ideye came under fire after comments he made during an online debate were allegedly misinterpreted by several outlets.

Naija News reports that Ideye advised current footballers to embrace financial discipline in light of the struggles faced by past Nigerian stars. His advice followed former defender Taribo West’s emotional outburst at the burial of ex-goalkeeper Peter Rufai, where West accused football authorities of abandoning retired players.

Ideye had urged players to start saving from the early stages of their careers, writing: “Footballers, start saving for your future from day one. No matter how small your salary is, put something aside for your retirement.”

He further highlighted the need for a strong support system off the pitch, stressing that “success after retirement depends on good people and a reliable partner.”

However, a response the former West Bromwich Albion forward gave to a follower during the debate, “They should be jailed for life if, after they retired from playing, they can’t feed themselves,” was widely circulated, fueling the controversy.

In a statement titled Setting the Record Straight, Brown Ideye said the reports were false and damaging to his reputation.

“Let me be clear: These statements are completely false and misrepresent my views,” Ideye said.

According to him, his position has always been about supporting athletes and addressing the difficulties they face after hanging up their boots.

“I would never suggest punitive action towards anyone who struggles financially or otherwise. Instead, I advocate for focus to be on offering all necessary support, resources, training and mentorship programmes to help players/athletes navigate the transition from sports to life after the game,” he explained.

He added that discussions about footballers’ welfare should be rooted in empathy. “It’s important to approach these conversations with empathy and solutions, not condemnation.”

Brown Ideye further condemned the media for misrepresenting him, urging the public to disregard the false reports.

“This article is misleading about my person and character, and I strongly condemn it. I urge the public to disregard it and ask for the media to desist from false claims and publications as such stories only bring disrepute and sow seeds of discord,” he said.

On social media, Ideye also cautioned against rushing to conclusions. Posting on 𝕏, he wrote: “School is not a scam, try to learn how to read and understand the whole story before jumping to conclusions.”

The retired Nigerian international, who recently retired from international football after Enyimba of Aba announced his exit from the club, represented the Super Eagles at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and won the AFCON in 2013.