Tottenham Suspends Premier League Star After Video Shows Him Inhaling Nitrous Oxide

Tottenham Suspends Premier League Star After Video Shows Him Inhaling Nitrous Oxide

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma will miss the start of the Premier League season after being suspended by the club. This decision follows an investigation into footage showing Bissouma allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.

Incident and Suspension Details

Bissouma uploaded clips of himself using nitrous oxide, which is now classified as a Class C drug under British law, onto the social media platform Snapchat last weekend. The Mali international has since apologized, acknowledging in a statement his “severe lack of judgment.”

Following the investigation, Bissouma was handed a one-match suspension, meaning he will miss Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Leicester City on Tuesday (AEST).

Postecoglou’s Response to Bissouma’s Actions

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou expressed his disappointment, stating:

“He is a footballer of this club — he has responsibilities to the club, to his teammates, to our supporters, to everyone associated with the club, and he has failed in those duties. He won’t be available for Monday. We’ve suspended him for the game. He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. The door is open for him, and hopefully, we can help him realize the decisions he makes impact the group.”

The Dangers of Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide is used medically as an anesthetic and pain reliever, but it is also misused as a recreational drug to achieve a high. Heavy use can lead to damage to brain and nerve tissue.

Postecoglou emphasized the importance of education alongside the suspension, stating that Bissouma needs to gain an understanding of why his actions were wrong:

“There’s a person involved. In this case, it’s Biss, and he’s made a really poor decision. You want to understand that and try and help him through that, as a club… to make sure he doesn’t make those kinds of choices and decisions in the future.”

Bissouma’s Role at Tottenham

Bissouma, who joined Tottenham from Brighton in 2022, made 26 starts under Postecoglou during the 2023-24 season. Despite this setback, the club hopes to guide him back on track.