There is no doubt that football plays a significant role in our lives, and our attention is always directed towards its stars and everything related to them. A new study has revealed that one in five professional football players uses moist or tobacco-free nicotine pouches known as "Snus." The research, which included both male and female players, indicated that the actual number is likely higher as some may be reluctant to admit their use of Snus. The study found that 18% of the 628 male players surveyed from Premier League clubs reported using moist tobacco or nicotine pouches, while 22% of the 51 female players questioned in the Women's Premier League were also users.
Leicester City player Jamie Vardy mentioned in his 2016 autobiography that using Snus helped him "relax," and he was seen carrying it during the 2016 UEFA European Championship, according to British news network Sky News. In 2021, Sunderland coach Lee Johnson compared the use of moist tobacco to smoking three or four cigarettes at once, stating that he has players who are "extremely addicted."
Additionally, a report from Loughborough University found that the pouches were used to curb appetite, while many players said they started using them to fit in with their teammates. One player told researchers, "I have quit twice for eight months, but it seems I always start doing it again. I have a hard time quitting when I'm around it all day."
