Pouches of tobacco or nicotine, known as snus, are widely available among players.

Tobacco pouches, or nicotine, also known as snus, are widespread among professional footballers in England, and it is clear that this habit increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and greatly complicates sports practice.

Snus is a smokeless nicotine product that sits between the upper lip and gums and is very popular in the UK.The results show that usage among professional footballers is higher than the general UK population, and players often use these products recreationally.

One in five players in the UK regularly take a dose of nicotine or the addictive substance, which is a sachet of moist tobacco powder, according to a study carried out by England’s Loughborough University on Tuesday.

In a survey conducted for the Professional Footballers’ Association in England, the opinions of 628 players active in the English Premier League and Second Division (Championship) and 51 players of the Women’s Super League were explored.

The results show that 18% of 628 football players say they actually eat these products, and 22% of 51 players consider themselves to be consumers of these products, which are unrealistic numbers, according to the British newspaper. daily.

By consuming nicotine as well as wet tobacco, players have noticed an improvement in mental abilities (29% of men compared to 55% of women) and 41% of men and 64% of women use snus to help them relax after matches and training.

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has admitted to using wet tobacco to help him “relax” and was photographed carrying it at Euro 2016.

Some players also use snus as an appetite suppressant, as a coping mechanism when they find themselves in stressful situations, but also as a way to blend in with other teammates (56% of men cite this reason versus 73% of women).

One player told the researchers, “I’ve kicked the addiction twice in 8 months, but I always seem to start doing it again. (I find) it’s hard to stop.

In the year In 2021, Sunderland manager Lee Johnson likened wet tobacco use to smoking three or four cigarettes at a time and said he had players who were “very addicted”.

The effect of snus on health

The study found that snus consumption is also suspected of increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer of the esophagus and pancreas, especially as these small bags are placed under the lips where they come in contact with the gums. More blood vessels, and therefore the body absorbs nicotine more quickly.

Last November, former England international Gary Lineker spoke of his bad experience with wet tobacco: “I took this out of my mouth and threw it in the bin, thinking what the hell this is.” I’m starting to sweat, but I’m getting cold. I started feeling nauseous, and could not get up because I felt dizzy. “There was vomit everywhere.”

Although it has many harmful effects on health, it is difficult for these athletes to stop taking the drug because of its addiction. A member of the club said in the study that the former Premier League and English Football League player described himself as a heavy user and said it was difficult to stop using wet tobacco.

“I want to stop but I can’t,” he explained. It’s everywhere. All other players take it. When I go to fill up my car, it’s at the gas station. “It’s very simple.”

About half of the users in the men’s league indicated their intention to quit smoking in the next 12 months, but the majority of users in the women’s league did not intend to quit smoking.

Snus contains nicotine which is addictive as its users get 3 or 5 times more nicotine than a cigarette smoker.