Manager Worried Over 'Dangerous' Use Of Snus In Football, Says He's Had Players Begging Doctors For It

Lee Johnson has expressed his concern over snus in football and says he's had players 'begging' doctors and nurses for the tobacco product.

The Sunderland boss believes snus is detrimental to a player's health, physically and mentally in a damning assessment.

Image: PA

Snus is a tobacco product that is placed between the upper lip and gum for extended periods for a buzz.

It's a smokeless oral product made from ground or pulverised leaves, contained similar to a tea bag.

Image: PA

Neil Lennon has been spotted using snus on the touchline during his Celtic days, while Jamie Vardy used to do snus before stopping after backlash.

While the use of snus is not illegal in the UK, the former Bristol City manager has warned the damage it can have on a player - revealing his own encounters.

"It gives you that sort of buzz," he told talkSPORT. "I have not tried it myself, but having spoken to the players, the worry for me is it is so highly addictive.

"I have had players who are so highly addicted that they are in hospital overnight with something else, maybe an operation, and are begging the doctors and nurses to get them a tub - or otherwise they say they are going to run out of bed and get (it) themselves when they have just had a knee operation.

"It is so highly addictive that it comes to the forefront of our minds which then becomes dangerous."

Johnson added: "You are messing with the balance of the body and mind, that is the biggest thing for me in terms of development.

"You will find that some players have two or three snus sachets under their lip, but then they are taking caffeine tablets, so it is giving themselves that calming effect.

"They are then going into a game trying to lift themselves and are therefore taking caffeine tablets or Red Bull to try to get the boost.

"(With) so many spikes in the body, sort of balance if you like, I don't believe it is conducive to top performance, but more important it is not conducive to the player being healthy for a long period of time.

"It is nicotine going into the body and an awful lot of it.

"I see how many players are actually on it - you could probably go to maybe a third or half of a dressing room. I think they are uneducated on the negatives towards it."

Topics: Football

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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