Brown Ideye, a former Super Eagles striker and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner in 2013, has dismissed widespread reports claiming he called for retired Nigerian footballers who end up broke to be imprisoned.
The controversy began last week when excerpts from an online discussion involving Ideye circulated widely, leading to accusations that he was unsympathetic to the plight of past players.
In a strongly worded statement released on Sunday, Ideye debunked the reports. “Let me be clear: These statements are completely false and misrepresent my views,” he declared in the release tagged “Setting the Record Straight.”
The ex-West Bromwich Albion forward clarified that his advocacy has always been centered on offering support to athletes, especially in helping them prepare for life after football.
“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, trainings and mentorship programmes to help players/athletes navigate the transition from sports to life after the game,” he said.
Highlighting empathy as key, Ideye added: “It’s important to approach these conversations with empathy and solutions, not condemnation.”
Condemning the false narrative, he urged Nigerians to disregard it. “This article is misleading of 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,” Ideye cautioned.
He took to X (formerly Twitter) to emphasize the need for comprehension before judgment: “School is not a scam, try to learn how to read and understand the whole story before jumping into conclusions.”
The debate was sparked by his advice to active footballers to save part of their salaries, regardless of amount, for the future. “Footballers, start saving for your future from day one. No matter how small your salary is, put something aside for your retirement,” he advised.
His counsel followed Taribo West’s passionate remarks at the funeral of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai, where West criticized football administrators for abandoning retired stars.
While a controversial response attributed to him suggested life imprisonment for broke players, Ideye has made it clear that such a statement does not reflect his stance.
Frontpagenews.ng reports that the 34-year-old forward, who represented Nigeria at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and lifted the 2013 AFCON title, is among the country’s most experienced football exports.
