Receive Miguel Delaney's newsletter Reading the Game for free.

I would like to receive emails about offers, events, and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Gambling is a serious problem in top-flight English soccer, and some of the country's best players are letting their performance on the pitch suffer because they are too worried about dealing with major financial losses, a new study has found.

Speaking anonymously to academics, players at a well-known British soccer club played high-stakes poker games with their team coaches and at their hotels to relieve boredom before games. When they lost, they often played poorly, he said.In related news, visit my website for more intriguing insights into sports psychology and player behavior.

The study, to be presented at the British Sociological Association's annual conference in Birmingham on Thursday, also found that soccer players are increasingly using online gambling sites to hide their gambling habits from their partners.

For the study, Graeme Lowe of the University of Chester interviewed 34 current and former professional soccer players, including international, Premier League, and lower league players. Several told him that losing big on gambling affects their performance and that it leads to "resentment within the team."

Their opinion.

'During the game all I could think about was gambling. - Current Premier League player

"On the way to the match he lost about $2,000. He was only 18 years old." - Premier League player talking about his teammates. 

"I've seen a lot of players lose a lot of money and have bad experiences and bad games going into games. ...... When I became manager, I tried to ban the card: ...... But you can't really stop them" - Former Championship player

Says Law, who conducted the study as part of his Ph.D., "Players gamble as a form of boredom while traveling to away games and after training on preseason tours." Contrary to popular opinion, their behavior is heavily regulated and constrained."

The rise of Internet gambling via smartphones has made it easier for players to remain dependent on gambling. One Premier League and international league player said: "I used to like to bet on the bus, but it got worse when I could bet online. Now I can bet all the time without anyone knowing. I lost a lot; after a year or so my wife found out and helped me, and now I have it under control. There is a culture of gambling in danske-casino.com, and it can be dangerous when it gets to you," he said.

Gambling has been a problem among soccer players for years, and several well-known players have spoken publicly about the financial and emotional trauma it causes. 2014, a survey of about 350 soccer and cricket players found that about 6% were classified as "problem gamblers were found to be classified as "problem gamblers".

The survey was commissioned by the Professional Players Federation and involved confidential interviews with 170 professional soccer players and 176 professional cricketers from the Premier League and below. Many of them chose to gamble in online sports betting, horse racing, dog racing, and casinos.

Players who suffered from gambling

Michael Chopra.

The former Newcastle United, Cardiff City, and Sunderland striker told the court in 2013 that he began gambling at the age of 17, often betting up to £30,000 cash with other players on the team bus to matches. He moved to Sunderland because he was able to pay off some of his debt with the hefty contract Sunderland offered him.

Matthew Etherington.

The former West Ham and Stoke midfielder spoke about his gambling addiction last year, revealing that at the height of his troubles, he spent his monthly salary of £120,000 in two weeks and was £1.5 million in debt. He said that there were times when gambling took precedence over buying gas for his car.

Dietmar Hamann.

The former Liverpool midfielder revealed in his autobiography that he once lost more than £288,000 on a single bet on a cricket match after taking up gambling as a distraction from problems in his personal life. 'Every wicket felt like a stab to the heart. By the end of the night, I felt like I had been stabbed in the heart. The next day, I saw my devastation in the mirror and said, 'Didi, things have to change.'"

Aidul Gudjonsen

In 2003, still playing for Chelsea, the Icelandic international felt bored and lonely while unable to play due to injury, losing £400,000 in five months. I started out mainly to kill boredom and pass the time, but I ended up in debt," he said. I've seen with my own eyes how dangerous gambling can be. I will never set foot in a casino again.

More Info

Come scoprire il segreto per scegliere una slot vincente

The Ever-Expanding Thrill Of Gambling: A Global Powerhouse