July 13, (THEWILL) – After Dele Alli, the Everton midfielder, opened up about his alarming addiction to sleeping pills, professional footballers have been urged to reach out for support from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) if they find themselves developing a similar dependency.
Alli revealed that “it’s probably a problem that not only I have, I think it’s something that’s going around more than people realise in football.” In response, Dr Michael Bennett, the Director of Player Well-being at the PFA, stressed the union’s commitment to assisting members dealing with addictive behaviours or dependencies, including the use of medications like painkillers and sleeping tablets. Dr Bennett urged players to confidentially reach out to the PFA and access available support.
Recognising the issue of sleeping tablet addiction within the football community, the PFA actively monitors and reports on the situation in collaboration with football authorities. Dr Bennett acknowledged the various reasons why players turn to sleep tablets, such as struggling to sleep after night games and the challenges of mentally and physically “coming down” afterwards. Additionally, frequent international travel across different time zones can severely disrupt sleep patterns. Players may also face personal issues such as stress, which can affect their sleep quality and overall rest and recovery.
Bennett cautioned that even when prescribed in small doses, prescription medications can be habit-forming. Therefore, he encouraged players to seek confidential assistance from the PFA if they suspect a dependency has developed.
In a poignant interview, ex-Rotherham player, Ryan Cresswell, shared his own experience battling an addiction to painkillers and sleeping tablets: “Plain and simple, if I had carried on doing what I was doing, I would have been dead. I didn’t want to die. I just didn’t know how to live.” His testimony underlines the gravity of the issue and stresses the importance of seeking help.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
