Premier League legend says the pair never faced each other and demands an apology over the viral podcast comments
Former England captain Alan Shearer has publicly challenged former Super Eagles midfielder John Mikel Obi after accusing him of making a false claim about their supposed encounters on the pitch.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Mikel recently described Shearer as the “dirtiest player” he had ever faced, alleging that the Newcastle United legend was notorious for stamping on opponents’ feet and throwing elbows during matches.
However, Shearer wasted no time investigating the claim—and says the facts simply don’t add up.
According to the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, Mikel never actually played against him before his retirement in 2006, making the Nigerian’s account impossible.
Reacting on social media and on a later edition of the The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer dismissed Mikel’s comments, insisting the former Chelsea midfielder had confused him with another player.
Shearer jokingly—but pointedly—called on Mikel to either issue an apology or “hear from my lawyers,” making it clear he was not amused by the accusation.
The exchange has quickly gone viral, with football fans pointing out that Mikel’s timeline does not match Shearer’s career. Shearer retired at the end of the 2005-06 season, while Mikel only joined Chelsea later that summer, meaning the two never faced each other in a competitive match.
The latest controversy has also sparked fresh debate among fans over Mikel’s football opinions, particularly his frequent criticism of Arsenal.
On social media, some supporters were quick to joke that if Mikel could get something as factual as this wrong, perhaps “Arsenal isn’t the only topic he’s always wrong about.”
Whether Mikel responds with an apology or clarification remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the former Chelsea star has found himself on the receiving end of a rare Shearer counterattack.