BROWN IDEYE: Retired Players Who Go Broke Deserve Jail Time
Former Super Eagles striker Brown Ideye has called on footballers to prioritize financial planning, stressing that players who go broke after retirement should face jail time.
In a post on his official X account, Ideye urged active players to view their earnings as a lifetime’s income compressed into a short career span.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations champion, who recently retired from international football, didn’t mince words—stating that players who squander their wealth and end up financially unstable after retirement “deserve jail time.”
“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 emphasized that players should seek a strong support system, highlighting the value of surrounding themselves with trustworthy individuals and a dependable partner once their playing days are over.
The 35-year-old made the remarks in response to an online discussion about athletes who struggle with financial planning.
One commenter had contended that professionals, especially those with careers in Europe, have ample opportunity to secure their financial future and little justification for failing to do so.
West expressed sorrow over the lack of financial support for Rufai’s family, drawing parallels to the hardships faced by the families of other late football legends, 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 said in a video posted by News Central.
Fiery comments ignited a storm of discussion across social media, drawing attention to the financial struggles faced by former international footballers.
Many users expressed disbelief that some players, especially those who spent years playing in Europe, end up financially unstable after retiring from the sport.
