{"id":2135,"date":"2026-04-12T11:49:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T11:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=2135"},"modified":"2026-04-12T11:49:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T11:49:43","slug":"arsenal-and-england-icon-tony-adams-breaks-down-insidious-epidemic-invading-dressing-rooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=2135","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal and England icon Tony Adams breaks down ‘insidious’ epidemic invading dressing rooms"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Thirty years on from English football\u2019s greatest confessional, Tony Adams can sense a new addiction gripping the game.<\/p>\n

Back in 1996, former Arsenal and England captain Adams laid bare his demons in the book which changed football writing for good. Adams has done as much as any sports star to help with addiction, mental health and getting us all talking. His Sporting Chance clinic has also saved hundreds of lives.<\/p>\n

His book Addicted – brilliantly written with Ian Ridley – opened people\u2019s eyes. Sober was the next chapter and now \u201c1996: Reflections on the year which changed my life” goes even deeper.<\/p>\n

But there is also a clear warning about the new danger in football. When asked whether gambling has now overtaken alcohol as the biggest fix for footballers, Adams insists: \u201c100%. 100%. 100%. Yeah. And it’s becoming insidious.<\/p>\n

“It’s mental, you know, I always give the example of breathalyser. You can’t see someone if they’re three times over the gambling limit. You know what I mean? You can’t, there’s no signs.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Arsenal legend Tony Adams claims gambling in football has reached \u201cepidemic\u201d levels<\/span><\/span>READ MORE: Viktor Gyokeres makes Arsenal ‘nerves’ admission and responds to Mikel Arteta demand<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football’s Facebook page<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

“You look at someone. I don’t know whether you’re going to go down William Hill afterwards or what. Most people are on the phone now anyway. So it’s really difficult to detect.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, usually they’ve nicked money or they’ve mortgaged their house to pay for them. But for one of us, a footballer, they can say: \u2018Oh, you’ve got a bit, you’ve got a problem, come and see me afterwards.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce a year my Gran used to have a bet on Aintree. That\u2019s not a gambling problem, is it? But that can’t be the justification for the people that are out there being hooked by this stuff. Was it 85% of all the money that they earn are from the addicts?<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what I mean? So they target the addicts. They don’t want you not to bet. You know what I mean? So it’s all from the bad ones.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlayers are not allowed to bet on football. But they’re not on football, but they can do other stuff, can’t they? Yeah you know, gambling up the wall and stuff, you know what I mean? I’ve never really had that one to be honest with you. A lot of other stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n