Alcohol in association football
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Alcohol companies are sponsors of major association football teams and tournaments. Branding has been voluntarily removed from children's replica kits and banned outright in France. Alcohol cannot be consumed in parts of English football grounds with view of the pitch, or anywhere in Scottish grounds outside of corporate hospitality.
In England, football had a drinking culture, which declined from the late 1990s due to foreign managers such as Arsène Wenger and an increased focus on health and fitness. Some star footballers have suffered from alcohol abuse up to the point of death, and others have committed alcohol-related crimes such as drink-driving. Conversely, other players abstain from alcohol, including for reasons of faith.
Footballers and alcohol related crime
English football's drinking culture was exemplified by Arsenal's Tuesday Club. One of the first managers to challenge this and promote the health and performance benefits of abstinence was Frenchman Arsène Wenger, who was hired by Arsenal in 1996. In 2003, Wenger picked 19-year-old Jermaine Pennant to play against Southampton; Pennant had not expected to play, but despite still being hungover after arriving home from a night out at 6 a.m., he scored a hat-trick as Arsenal won 6–1.[1] In 2016, Wenger said that there was no longer a drinking culture in English football as players were aware of the risks.[2][3]
According to Chelsea player Damien Duff, a strong drinking culture existed at the club during the early years of José Mourinho's tenure as manager, and that John Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Bridge, Eiður Guðjohnsen and Duff would go "out all the time and get absolutely lamped".[4]
Former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur player, Paul Walsh was part of a drinking culture during his time at the clubs. He said that while with Tottenham he frequently drove when drunk and used alcohol to mask his poor on-pitch performances.[5]
In 2019, Rio Ferdinand said that he had been part of a drinking culture during his time at West Ham United and that he could not remember his performances in certain games due to his drinking at the time.[6]
Players who died due to chronic alcohol abuse include Northern Irishman George Best (59)[7] and Brazilian Garrincha (49).[8] Players who had long-term issues with alcohol include Tony Adams,[2] Paul Merson,[3] Paul Gascoigne,[9] Neil Ruddock,[10] Gary Charles,[11] Jimmy Greaves[12] Brian Clough,[13] Paul McGrath,[14] Malcolm Macdonald,[14] Brian McDermott[15] and Kenny Sansom.[14]
In 2020, Peter Whittingham died in a drunken play-fight in a pub in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, as he lost his balance, walked through a fire door and fell down eight steps and hit his head.[16]
Footballers convicted of violent crime after drinking alcohol include Lee Bowyer,[17] Chris Bettney,[18] Kevin Hird,[19] Marlon King,[20] Adam Hammill,[21] Josh Payne,[22] Anthony Stokes,[23][24] James Tomkins,[25] Shaun Newton,[26] Paul Conlon (manslaughter)[27] and Marcus Maddison.[28][29]
In January 2020, Jordan Sinnott was left with a fractured skull after a fight in Retford, Nottinghamshire. In July 2020, two men, Kai Denovan and Cameron Matthews, were jailed for manslaughter for their part in the "violent, drunken attack" that killed Sinnott. Denovan was jailed for eleven years and Matthews for eight years and three months.[30]
Drink driving
Footballers convicted of drink driving include Paul Ince,[31] Bobby Moore,[32] Yaya Touré,[33] Wayne Rooney,[34] Craig Bellamy,[35] Charlie Adam,[36] Hugo Lloris,[37] Jesse Lingard,[38] Roberto Firmino,[39] Danny Drinkwater,[40] Trevor Sinclair,[41] Joelinton,[42] Mikel John Obi,[43] Danny Graham,[44] Peter Shilton,[45] Tomáš Řepka,[46] Ray Wilkins,[47] Jermaine Pennant,[48] Paul Merson[49] Oli McBurnie,[50] David Bentley,[51] Barry Bannan,[52] Fabian Delph,[53] Nile Ranger,[54] Chris Eagles,[55] Jean-Philippe Gbamin,[56] James Beattie,[57] Alexandro Bernabei,[58] Stephen Hughes,[59] Callum McGregor,[60] Michael O’Neill,[61] Leighton James,[62] Alex Bone,[63] Manuel da Costa,[64] Shane Duffy,[65] James Hurst,[66] Jenna Dear,[67] Ilmari Niskanen[68] and Courtney Meppen-Walter.[69]
In 2018, Darron Gibson was found guilty of drink-driving for a second time having previously been convicted in 2015. Gibson who hit parked cars on his way to training with his club Sunderland was found to be three times over the drink-driving limit. Sunderland terminated his contract after he was charged.[70]
Drink driving related deaths
In August 2003, Jimmy Davis was killed on the M40 motorway in Oxfordshire when he crashed into the back of a 32-tonne articulated lorry. He was twice the legal drink-drive limit.[71]
In 2008, goalkeeper Luke McCormick was jailed for seven years and four months after admitting killing two young brothers on the M6 motorway while driving dangerously at twice the legal alcohol limit.[72]
In May 2018, Jlloyd Samuel collided with a van while driving a Range Rover in Cheshire. The car burst into flames and Samuel died at the scene of the accident. An inquest found that Samuel had been twice the drink-driving limit and that his car had strayed onto the wrong side of the road, causing a head-on collision.[73]
Muslim footballers and alcohol
Muslim footballers generally do not consume alcohol and it was reported in 2013 that celebrations have been altered to avoid exposing them to alcohol.[74]
Muslim footballers who have committed drink driving include Yaya Touré[75] and Hamza Choudhury.[76]
Teetotal footballers
Notable footballers who abstain from alcohol include Cristiano Ronaldo,[77] Gareth Bale,[78] Jermain Defoe,[79] Harry Kane[80] and Lou Macari.[81]
Football and alcohol-related illness
In 1932, West Ham United manager Syd King was dismissed after arriving drunk at a board meeting.[82] In 1933, shortly after the sacking, he committed suicide by drinking alcohol mixed with a corrosive liquid.[83]
Following his retirement in 2008, Claus Lundekvam revealed that he had problems with depression, drugs and alcohol after his playing career.[84] About his addiction he said: "I would drink 2 litres (0.44 imp gal) of hard liquor and do between five and ten grams of cocaine every day". Lundekvam got help to overcome his addiction and issues at Sporting Chance Clinic, a recovery facility for athletes set up by former Arsenal captain Tony Adams.[84]
In March 2021, Lee Collins hanged himself in a hotel room.[85] At an inquest the coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.[86] It was heard during the inquest that Collins had been drinking heavily every day for the past decade, and had been under the influence of alcohol and cocaine at the time of his suicide.[86]
In 2022, Joey Beauchamp hanged himself after suffering from depression, alcohol addiction and financial difficulties.[87]
Alcohol and fans
In 1985, the consumption of alcohol in the stands of English football grounds and stadium areas with views of the pitch was banned in order to curb hooliganism. It was also banned on buses and trains taking supporters to games.[88] This applies in the highest five tiers (Premier League to National League). In 2021, former sports minister Tracey Crouch considered changes to this rule, believing that it encouraged fans to drink quickly at half time. The idea was criticised by Mark Roberts, the police's leader on football.[89]
Alcohol has been banned from any parts of Scottish football grounds since unrest at the 1980 Scottish Cup final between Celtic and Rangers, excluding corporate hospitality areas. There was talk on revoking this ban for UEFA Euro 2020, which was opposed by the police.[90]
In 2012, Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was assaulted by a drunken Leeds United supporter who ran onto the pitch. At his prosecution, the court were told the fan had drunk a number of cans of lager and 0.75 litres (0.16 imp gal) of vodka before arriving in Sheffield followed by a further 7–10 pints of cider. He received a 16-week jail sentence and a six-year football banning order.[91]
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