Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma will miss the start of the Premier League season after being suspended by the club. This comes after an investigation into a video showing him appearing to inhale nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.
Bissouma shared videos of himself using nitrous oxide, which is now classified as a Class C drug under British law, on Snapchat last weekend.
The Mali international has apologized and admitted in a statement that he showed a “severe lack of judgment.”
After the investigation, Bissouma received a one-match suspension, so he will not play in Tottenham’s Premier League opener against Leicester on Monday.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said on Thursday, “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 … but beyond that, there is also some trust-building that needs to happen between Biss and me, and Biss and the group. That’s what he needs to work hard at, to win that back.”
Nitrous oxide is used in medicine as an anesthetic and pain reliever, but it is also used recreationally to get high. Heavy use can harm brain and nerve tissue.
Postecoglou said Bissouma’s punishment also needs to include some education to help him understand why his actions were wrong.
“There’s a person involved,” the Australian coach said. “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 kind of choices and decisions in the future.”
Bissouma, who joined Tottenham from Brighton in 2022, made 26 starts under Postecoglou during the 2023-24 season.
