Former Super Eagles’ winger, Peter Osaze Odemwingie has threatened legal action against a popular British broadcast outift as well as two clubs in England’s football setting for ‘continuously mocking him’ over a botched transfer move that happened in 2013.
Sports247 reports that, though 13 years have passed since Osaze’s infamous attempt to force through a transfer from West Bromwich Albion to Queens Park Rangers, the ex-international, who is now a golfer, is angry that the incident is still being referenced by presenters.
He accused the broadcast outfit, Sky Sports of ‘spreading untruths about the real events’ that played out on that inglorious date of January 31, 2013, the winter transfer deadline day, then slammed QPR for selling off a jersey on which his name had been already been branded by the club.
A report by UK’s Daily Mail revealed, “Peter Odemwingie has warned Sky Sports, West Bromwich Albion and Queens Park Rangers that he is considering legal action over his infamous failed transfer on deadline day in 2013.
“Odemwingie was at the centre of one of the most bizarre deadline day stories of all time when he was interviewed by reporters through his car window outside QPR’s Loftus Road stadium, believing he had completed a move to the London club.
“It later emerged that QPR and West Brom, Odemwingie’s club at the time, had failed to agree a transfer fee for the Nigerian striker and the proposed move collapsed just minutes before the 11pm deadline, thereby ultimately sending him back to The Baggies.
“Footage of his infamous interview did the rounds again on Sky Sports News ahead of (this past) Tuesday night’s deadline, prompting Odemwingie to launch an attack on the broadcaster in a video on Instagram.”
Sports247 gathered further that Osaze, now 45 years old, reacted to the development by accusing Sky Sports of not telling the full extent of the story and criticised QPR for auctioning an already branded jersey they had prepared for his arrival, in anticipation of a formal unveiling the next day.
Osaze posited in a video via Instagram, “Sky Sports agents and employees of both clubs – West Brom and QPR – definitely have questions to answer, and I will be seeing a lawyer next week to make it official.
“What is the motive, intention to show this episode on and on for so many years? The least will be lack or absence of respect in my opinion. Maybe they don’t like that I am half Nigerian and half Russian?
“I can only guess. Could be something else. Who really knows? The problem about this whole story is that nobody is interested in the truth. Sky Sports milked this situation for so many years. I think it’s just wickedness, really.”
Sports247 recalls that Osaze, who scored for Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, drove approximately 125 miles from West Brom’s training ground to QPR’s Loftus Road in London to force the deal through.
He believed a fee had already been agreed between both clubs and that his move depended only on a separate player transfer, but QPR did not have permission from West Brom to speak with him, so stadium security refused him entry.
Osaze, who was also a member of Nigeria’s silver-winning under-23 squad at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, made two appearances for the Super Eagles at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in Soutth Africa and scored the team’s winning goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Brazil 2014.
Born in what is now Uzbekistan, Odemwingie began his career with AS Racines of Lagos, from where he moved to Bendel Insurance FC of Benin City, then onwards to La Louvière and Lille Metropole of France as well as Lokomotiv Moscow of Russia.
After falling out with West Brom, Osaze later moved to Cardiff City of Wales, Stoke City, Bristol City and Rotherham United of England as well as Madura United of Indonesia, where he announced his retirement on April 3rd, 2019.
