A key Tottenham midfielder has been forced into a grovelling apology after filming himself inhaling laughing gas and posting it on Snapchat.
Spurs star Yves Bissouma posted a video of himself inhaling nitrous oxide in a chauffeur-driven limousine and laughing between puffs to his private Snapchat account, which the Sun have obtained.
The news comes just a week before Spurs start their Premier League season at Leicester City next Monday night and will be an unwanted distraction for boss Ange Postecoglou and Bissouma's team-mates.
The Mali and former Brighton midfielder, 27, released a statement on Sunday night apologising for his 'severe lack of judgment'.
Bissouma said: 'I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgment.
Spurs star Yves Bissouma posted a video of himself inhaling nitrous oxide on social media
'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.'
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur told The Sun: 'We are looking into the events.
Possession of laughing gas with an intent to use recreationally was made illegal in the UK last year.
Nitrous oxide, known as ‘hippy crack’, is contained in canisters, which can be super-sized. The canisters are then used to fill balloons which are inhaled to provide a quick ‘high’. Usage carries a series of risks including heart attack, strokes and brain damage. There have been fatalities among users.
In November, the law was changed to make nitrous oxide a controlled Class C Drug. Possession for inhalation is now deemed a criminal offence although a conviction may be unlikely unless it appears as though there is a desire to supply others.
New, super-sized canisters can deliver 80 times the usual dose, while canisters can be obtained online and relatively cheaply as long as the buyer confirms they are over 18 and it is to be used for food production.
There are concerns that its usage is rife among Premier League footballers with routine drug tests unlikely to detect its presence.
Bissouma is entering his third season with the north London side, having made 56 appearances in total for the club.
Prior to that, the midfielder had been at league rivals Brighton, where he made 124 appearances across four seasons for the Seagulls.