Tottenham’s Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma will miss the start of the Premier League season after being suspended by the club for appearing to inhale nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, in a video shared on social media.
Bissouma posted the clips on Snapchat last weekend, showing himself using nitrous oxide, which is now classified as a Class C drug in the UK.
In a statement, the Malian international apologized and admitted to a “serious lack of judgment.”
Following an investigation, Bissouma received a one-match ban, ruling him out of Tottenham’s Premier League opener on Monday against Leicester.
“He is a player for this club and has responsibilities to the club, his teammates, our supporters, and everyone connected with the club. He failed in those duties”, said Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou on Thursday.
“He won’t be available on Monday, but beyond that, there’s also work to be done on the trust between Biss and me, and between Biss and the team. That’s what he needs to focus on.”
Nitrous oxide is medically used as an anesthetic and painkiller, but it’s also abused for its euphoric effects, which can lead to brain and nerve damage with heavy use.
Postecoglou emphasized that the punishment should include an educational component to help Bissouma understand the severity of his actions.
“In this case, it’s Biss, and he made a very poor decision. We need to help him understand why it was wrong and guide him to make better choices in the future“, said the Australian coach.
Bissouma, who joined Tottenham from Brighton in 2022, has started 26 matches under Postecoglou in the 2023-24 season.