Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma is in controversy yet again. Amid footage surfacing of the Malian inhaling nitrous oxide, it's reported that Spurs will punish their player for the act.
Bissouma had earlier posted a video on social media of inhaling laughing gas from a balloon in a car. Recreational use of nitrous oxide was made a criminal offence in 2023 in the United Kingdom, which can also send the offender to prison for two years.
Following Bissouma's latest incident, Tottenham said that they will deal with the matter internally.
“We are looking into the events. This will be dealt with as an internal matter,” said a Tottenham spokesperson.
Tottenham signed Bissouma from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £25 million two seasons ago. He has made 56 appearances for the London club across competitions.
"This was a severe lack of judgement" - Tottenham midfielder Bissouma
The condemnable act incident reportedly happened after Spurs' 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Visit Malta Cup. Bissouma played the first half in Ange Postecoglu's side's final pre-season game of the season.
The 27-year old midfielder has apologised for the incident, which he accepted was a "severe lack of judgement" on his part.
“I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgement,” Bissouma said.
Bissouma mentioned that the incident was not something becoming of a role model and accepted that there are health risks involved.
“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,” the Spurs midfielder accepted.
Bissouma is not the only Spurs midfielder to have been caught with nos, as the gas is commonly known. In 2013, former full back, Kyle Walker, was pictured with the substance and was subsequently punished by the club.
Other Premier League stars have also been seen playing around with laughing gas. Spurs' arch rivals Arsenal issued a statement in 2018 to remind their players, of their responsibilities after a video from a London nightclub showed Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Matteo Guendouzi inhaling the gas.
In 2015, Liverpool issued a warning to winger Raheem Sterling after he was caught inhaling the gas ahead of a move to Manchester City. Sterling's City teammate, Jack Grealish, also has history with the banned substance when he was at Aston Villa.
Then Villa manager told the Englishman that the incident “would not be tolerated” by the Midlands club. West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino was reprimanded by the club in 2014 for a similar incident.