Tottenham Hotspur have suspended midfielder Yves Bissouma for their Premier League opening match against Leicester City after footage emerged of him appearing to inhale nitrous oxide.
The 27-year-old apologised earlier this week after uploading a video of himself inhaling from a balloon. He acknowledged that the incident was a “severe lack of judgement” and given the “health risks involved”.
Nitrous oxide — also known as laughing gas or nos — is classified as a Class C drug in the United Kingdom and its recreational use has been a criminal offence since 2023, carrying a maximum two-year prison sentence.
Spurs launched an internal investigation into the video and have opted to exclude the Mali international from Monday night’s Premier League opener away at newly-promoted Leicester.
Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou said on Thursday that Bissouma had made a “really poor decision”, adding there was “trust building to do” from the midfielder towards his team-mates and the coaching staff.
“You want to understand that (his action) and try to help him through that and as a club what we can do to make sure he doesn’t make those kinds of choices and decisions in the future,” Postecoglou said.
“Within that context there are still sanctions that are involved and some of those sanctions include education and giving him a clearer understanding of why he did what he did and how wrong it was.
“Hopefully thought that he comes out of it — you always want to give people the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.”
The head coach acknowledged that Bissouma had “failed in his responsibilities” to the club and his Spurs team-mates, for which “there has got to be sanctions”, leading to the one-game suspension.
When asked how Bissouma could rebuild his trust, Postecoglou replied: “Behaviour mate, it’s quite simple. Him making better choices moving forward and behaviour.
“He is obviously disappointed and very apologetic not just to me but to the club and everyone involved. That’s just the first part of the process, the next part is behaviour.
“Of making sure he does the things he needs to do. Like for all of us, we all make mistakes and it’s about how you find your way back from those mistakes. What you do is far more important than what you say.”
Bissouma has made 56 appearances for Spurs across two seasons, having joined from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2022.
(Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)