‘Broke Retired Players Should Be Jailed,’ Says Ex-Super Eagles Star Ideye

Former Super Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, has stirred controversy after declaring that footballers who fall into financial ruin after retirement should be “jailed.”

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, who recently confirmed his retirement from international football, made the remarks on his official X account while advising current players to view their earnings as a lifetime’s income earned in a short career span.

“Footballers, start saving for your future from day one. No matter how small your salary is, put something aside for your retirement,” Ideye wrote.

He also stressed the importance of strong personal relationships beyond the pitch:

“Pray for the right people around you, pray for a good partner, because these things matter after football.”

His comments came amid an ongoing online debate about the financial challenges faced by ex-footballers. Responding to a follower who argued that players with long careers in Europe have no excuse for ending up broke, Ideye replied bluntly:

“They should be jailed for life if, after they retired from playing, they can’t feed themselves.”

The discussion has intensified following the emotional remarks of former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, at the burial of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai on Friday. West criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Lagos State Government for failing to adequately support football legends, recalling similar struggles faced by the families of late icons Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha.

“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness,” West lamented in a viral clip.

West’s comments sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians questioning why some ex-internationals, despite lucrative careers abroad, often struggle financially in retirement.

Ideye’s hardline stance has divided opinion—while some fans applauded his call for financial discipline and accountability, others argued that the absence of institutional support for players remains the bigger issue.