Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has announced that Yves Bissouma will be suspended for the team’s Premier League season opener following the emergence of a video showing the midfielder inhaling laughing gas.
In the UK, the recreational use of nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, was criminalized in 2023, with repeat offenders facing potential prison sentences of up to two years.
Bissouma, who transferred to Spurs from Brighton & Hove Albion for £30 million in 2022, participated in 45 minutes of the team’s friendly match against Bayern Munich on Saturday.
After the game, the 27-year-old shared a video on social media where he was seen inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon.
The footage, which was obtained by The Sun, surfaced just a week before Tottenham’s first match of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
During a media interview on Wednesday, Postecoglou confirmed that Bissouma would be sidelined for the opening match against newly-promoted Leicester City as a consequence of his actions, expressing that his trust in the player has been compromised.
“Been in the game for a long time, when a situation like this arises, I’ve tried to look at them in a couple of ways. First, there’s a person and it’s Biss and he’s made a poor decision.
“There are still sanctions involved, and some of those are educational. He is a footballer with responsibilities. He won’t be available on Monday.
“We’ve suspended him from Monday’s game. He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. The door is open for him and we can help him realise the decisions he makes impact the group.”
Shortly after the video surfaced, Bissouma issued a statement apologising for his actions.
He said: “I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgement. “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.”
When asked how Bissouma could regain his trust, Postecoglou responded: “Behaviour, mate, it’s that simple. It’s about making better decisions.
“He was very apologetic to me, the club and everyone involved but that’s just part of it. We all make mistakes. It is how we make our way back from those mistakes.”
Undoubtedly, the incident is a significant setback for Spurs ahead of their Premier League season opener away at Leicester on Monday night.
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