Ex-Super Eagles Star Calls for Jail Time for Broke Retired Footballers Amid Rufai’s Burial Outburst
- Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has sparked outrage after declaring that broke retired footballers should be jailed
- His comments follow Peter Rufai’s funeral, where Taribo West blasted authorities for neglecting Nigerian football legends
- Some fans have agreed with Ideye’s point on financial planning, while others say systemic neglect is the real problem
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Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has set social media ablaze after declaring that retired footballers who end up broke should face jail time.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, who recently laced his boots for Enyimba, made the controversial comments on his official X handle while advising current players to take financial planning seriously.
Source: Getty Images
Ideye’s send strong message to active players
In a post that has now gone viral, Ideye cautioned young and active footballers to prepare for life after football from the first day they sign professional contracts, Daily Post reports
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“Footballers, start saving for your future from day one. No matter how small your salary is, put something aside for retirement,” Ideye wrote.
The former West Brom striker, who just announced his retirement per Nations Newspaper, further urged players to pray for supportive families and partners who can guide them towards wise financial decisions.
According to him, poor planning and reckless spending are the main reasons some football icons end up in financial distress after hanging up their boots.
Ideye says broke ex-players should be jailed
The conversation escalated when a follower on X argued that players, especially those who had lucrative careers in Europe, had no excuse to retire into poverty.
Source: Getty Images
Ideye, in agreement, went a step further, sparking outrage with his response.
“They should be jailed for life if, after they retired from playing, they can’t feed themselves,” Ideye fired back.
His comments have divided opinion across football circles, with some fans applauding his bluntness while others criticised him for being insensitive to the struggles of ex-players.
Many pointed to systemic issues such as poor contract management in Nigeria, lack of welfare structures for retired athletes, and exploitation by agents as deeper causes of financial hardship.
Rufai’s burial and Taribo’s emotional outburst
Ideye’s controversial take came just days after the funeral of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai.
The ceremony reignited the debate on how Nigerian football legends are treated in retirement and death by the Nigerian government.
At the service, former defender Taribo West gave a passionate speech, condemning the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Lagos State Government for neglecting Rufai’s family.
“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness,” Taribo said in an emotional video clip that has since gone viral.
Taribo recalled similar situations involving the families of late Nigerian football icons such as Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha.
Taribo’s salary in 1999 emerges
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Super Eagles legend Taribo West's salary in 1999 has emerged online after he complained that the Federal Government of Nigeria abandoned former players.
Former goalkeeper Peter Rufai died in Lagos last month after a long battle with illness, weeks after the demise of former captain and coach Christian Chukwu.
Source: Legit.ng
