Tottenham will be without midfielder Yves Bissouma in their Premier League opener against Leicester City.
Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed today that the Mali international has been suspended after he filmed himself inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, just days before the start of the new Premier League season. The recreational use of nitrous oxide was made illegal in the United Kingdom last year.
And although the player quickly apologised for his actions, the club has decided to take internal disciplinary action by suspending him for one game.
Speaking to the press ahead of the game against Leicester, Ange said (via Football London):
“I’ve been in the game for a long time and every time situations like this arise and they do happen I always try to look at them in a couple of different ways. One there is a person involved and in this case it’s Biss and he has made a really poor decision.”
“The second part of that is he also a footballer. He has responsibilities, responsibility to the club, his team-mates, to our supporters and everyone associated with the club and he failed in those duties.”
“There have got to be sanctions for that. He won’t be available for Monday. We have suspended him for Monday’s game.”
“Beyond that there is also some trust building that needs to happen between Biss and me and Biss and the group. That’s what he needs to work hard at from now on to try and win that back and that has nothing to do with just one game. He may be suspended for one game but he is going to have to earn that.”
“The door is open for him and hopefully we can help him to realise the decisions he makes impacts more than just him and hopefully allows him to make better decisions going forward.”
Bissouma joined Tottenham from Brighton in 2022. While he struggled to make an impact under former manager Antonio Conte, he has since become a crucial part of Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Last season, Bissouma made 28 Premier League appearances, starting 26 of them, and was seen as a key figure in Tottenham’s midfield.
Postecoglou has plenty of options to replace him including Rodrigo Bentancur, Oliver Skipp, Pape Matar Sarr as well as new signings Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray.
