Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has distanced himself from reports claiming he called for broke retired footballers to be jailed.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner faced widespread backlash after a social media comment was misinterpreted as suggesting that ex-players who failed to save money during their active years deserved punishment.
In his clarification on Sunday, Ideye said the viral reports were “false and misleading,” stressing that his message was focused on financial discipline and support for athletes.
“My attention has been drawn to recent media articles falsely attributing comments to me about retired footballers who end up broke needing to be jailed,” he said in a statement titled Setting the Record Straight.
“Let me be clear: These statements are completely false and misrepresent my views,” he added.
The controversy began after former defender Taribo West’s emotional outburst at the funeral of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai, where he accused football authorities of neglecting Nigerian legends.
During an online debate that followed, Ideye shared his opinion on X (formerly Twitter), advising players to prepare early for life after football.
“Footballers, start saving for your future from day one. No matter how small your salary is, put something aside for your retirement,” he wrote.
In addition, he urged players to pray for the right support system, highlighting the importance of family and trusted partners after retirement.
However, his reply to a follower “They should be jailed for life if, after they retired from playing, they can’t feed themselves” quickly went viral and was taken as his official stance.
Following the outrage, Ideye stressed that he would never call for punishment against struggling ex-players.
“As a former professional player myself who come from humble beginnings, I’ve always believed in support for active and former players,” he explained.
“I would never suggest punitive action towards anyone who struggles financially. Instead, I advocate for resources, training, and mentorship programmes to help athletes navigate life after football,” Ideye added.
According to him, the focus should be on empathy and solutions, not blame.
He further urged the media to “desist from false claims and publications as such stories only bring disrepute and sow seeds of discord.”
For Ideye, the conversation is simple: “It’s important to approach these conversations with empathy and solutions, not condemnation. #SupportNotCondemnation.”
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