Yves Bissouma apologizes over ‘laughing gas’ video

Following his videotaped inhalation of nitrous oxide, Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma issued an apology and said he had exhibited a “severe lack of judgement.”

On Saturday, Bissouma shared a video on social media showing him breathing in fumes from a balloon that contained laughing gas, a Class C narcotic.

The 27-year-old international player for Mali, Bissouma, is expected to undergo an internal club inquiry and may be disciplined for his behavior.

Since2023, it has been illegal in Britain to possess nitrous oxide for recreational purposes. As part of the government’s anti-social behavior action strategy, this offense carries a potential jail sentence.

“I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgement,” Bissouma said in a statement on Monday.

“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.”

A Tottenham spokesman added: “We are looking into the events. This will be dealt with as an internal matter.”

It is possible to use the gas for legitimate reasons, such as in catering for pain relief during labour.

Bissouma joined Tottenham from Brighton in 2022 and has made 56 appearances for the club, including 26 starts during the 2023/24 campaign.

He played for 45 minutes of Tottenham’s friendly against Bayern Munich on Saturday in their final warm-up before the start of the Premier League season at Leicester on August 19.