England still pays me N5m monthly as ex-player – Fashanu

John Fashanu

Retired professional footballer, John Fashanu, has revealed that he still earns N5 million monthly as pension from the English Football Association.

Fashanu raised eyebrows when he opted to line up for England ahead of Nigeria during his playing days.

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In a Daily Trust report published on Friday, Fashanu explained that the financial security, among other considerations, leaves players of Nigerian roots with no choice but to opt to play for their adopted countries.

He said in Abuja that he could understand why in-form Chelsea players, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori, decided to play for England and not Nigeria.

“Till today, I still get my benefits, my pensions. I get N5m monthly as pensions for being an ex-footballer in England and I am now in my 50s,” he said.

“Tammy knows why he hasn’t played for the Super Eagles and it’s because there is more financial benefits playing for England, there is more glory and less wahala.

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“Why do we ask the boy to play for Nigeria and torture him? We need to step up. Tammy is a massive miss for Nigeria. Nobody went to London to talk to him and explain to him the benefits of playing for his motherland.

“And when you hear what happened to Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, did anybody come out to defend him over his tax bills? Did anybody come out to defend Kanu when he had issues with his hotel?”