Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma apologised and admitted he showed “a serious lack of judgement” after being filmed inhaling laughing gas.
Bissouma posted a social media video on Saturday showing him inhaling from a balloon containing a Class C drug known as laughing gas.
The 27-year-old Malian international Bissouma is facing an internal club investigation and could be punished for his conduct.
Possession of nitrous oxide for recreational use will be a criminal offence in the UK from 2023 and can result in a prison sentence under the Government’s action plan against anti-social behaviour.
“I want to apologize for these videos. This was a blatant lack of judgment,” Bissouma said in a statement on Monday.
“I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved, and I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously.”
A Tottenham spokesman added: “We are investigating the incidents. This is being treated as an internal matter.”
It is possible to use the gas for legitimate reasons, such as pain relief during labor.
Bissouma joined Tottenham from Brighton in 2022 and made 56 appearances for the club in the 2023/24 season, including 26 starts.
He played 45 minutes in Tottenham’s friendly against Bayern Munich on Saturday, the final warm-up game before the start of the Premier League season in Leicester on August 19.
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