Tottenham Hotspur’s Malian midfielder, Yves Bissouma, has been handed a one-match ban by the club after an investigation into footage showing him inhaling nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.
The incident has sparked a heated debate about the responsibilities of footballers and the potential dangers of substance abuse.
Bissouma, who joined Tottenham from Brighton in 2022, uploaded clips to social media site Snapchat last weekend, showing himself using nitrous oxide.
The substance is now a Class C drug under UK law and can cause damage to brain and nerve tissue with heavy use.
Following the incident, Bissouma apologized and acknowledged his “serious lack of judgment” in a statement.
However, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou deemed the apology insufficient and imposed a one-match ban, which will see Bissouma miss the Premier League opener against Leicester on Monday.
Postecoglou emphasized that Bissouma’s actions were a failure of his responsibilities to the club, his teammates, and the supporters. “He won’t be available for Monday… but beyond that, there is also work to be done on trust between Biss and me, and between Biss and the group. That’s what he has to work on, to regain that trust,” the Australian coach said.
The sanctions against Bissouma will also include an educational component to help him understand the severity of his actions and the potential consequences of substance abuse. “There is one person involved, in this case, it’s Biss, and he made a very bad decision. You want to understand that and try to help him, as a club, … to make sure he doesn’t make those kinds of choices and decisions in the future,” Postecoglou added.
Bissouma’s suspension serves as a reminder of the high standards expected of professional footballers and the potential consequences of their actions off the pitch.
As the Premier League season kicks off, the incident has sparked a wider conversation about substance abuse and the responsibilities of sports personalities.