Peter Odemwingie has stated he is considering legal action against Sky Sports, West Bromwich Albion, and Queens Park Rangers over his widely publicized car-window interview on transfer deadline day in 2013. The former Premier League striker accused Sky Sports of "milking" the incident for years and suggested a lack of respect.
Odemwingie was at the center of a chaotic transfer story in January 2013 when he was interviewed by reporters from his car outside QPR's Loftus Road stadium, believing he had completed a move from West Brom to QPR. The transfer ultimately collapsed minutes before the 11 p.m. deadline because West Brom and QPR had not agreed on a transfer fee, leading to Odemwingie returning to West Brom.
West Brom subsequently disciplined Odemwingie for his conduct, with the club's then-chairman Jeremy Peace describing his actions as "wholly unprofessional." The incident has since been frequently replayed by media outlets.
Odemwingie expressed his grievances in a video posted to Instagram, criticizing Sky Sports for repeatedly showing the interview footage and questioning their motives. "From simply a human side of it @SkySportsFootball, what is the motive/intention to show this episode on and on for so many years?" he wrote. "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."
He also took aim at Queens Park Rangers for auctioning a shirt prepared for his arrival on deadline day in 2013, which had remained with the club for 13 years. "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," Odemwingie stated.
In his video, Odemwingie claimed the transfer negotiations were complicated by Junior Hoilett's potential involvement in a swap deal. He alleged that his agent, Barry McIntosh, worked with Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth in an attempt to facilitate the move. Odemwingie stated that he was initially asked to participate in a Sky Sports interview while en route to London but refused, calling it "stupid" and "childish."
Instead, Odemwingie claimed he and McIntosh waited for approximately two hours after attempts to contact West Brom went unanswered. He then followed his agent's car to QPR, under the belief the transfer was finalized. "Barry McIntosh told me it was all sorted," Odemwingie said. "His car was in front of mine and we were driving. I don't even know where we were going, whether to the training ground or to the stadium."
Odemwingie further alleged that West Brom later stated the deal was conditional on Hoilett moving the other way, a condition he claims was not initially communicated. He criticized the handling of the situation by West Brom and Sky Sports.
In a separate video, Odemwingie also addressed former Sky Sports presenter Natalie Sawyer, who had criticized his actions at the time. Sharing footage of Sawyer discussing the saga, Odemwingie posted cryptically, "Tables have turned. The time is ticking. Heads out the sand guys."
Daily Mail Sport has reached out to Odemwingie for further details regarding his proposed legal action.