Danny Murphy: I used snus during my career but believe football clubs should ban it

Former Liverpool and Tottenham star Danny Murphy has admitted he used snus during his career – but believes it should be banned now.

The Professional Footballers’ Association and Loughborough University are undergoing an investigation into the tobacco product to see its impact on players today.

It was revealed earlier this year that snus was being used by more and more Premier League stars, and some are even being treated for addiction to it.

It has grown a reputation for being a substitute for smoking but it has its own negative medical effects that are impacting players.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s White & Jordan Show, Murphy insisted that the tobacco product should be banned from football.

He said live on air on Wednesday afternoon: “Do you know what it boils down to? All of these things boil down to self-care, self-discipline, resilience, desire to get to the top, and making your choices along the way to do it.

“I am all for being educated and having some help along the way, whether that be even the basic stuff like nutrition that we didn’t have until later.

“If you have got doctors, medical teams and academy directors speaking to lads who might not have the support network or people around them to give them the knowledge, I am all for that.

“But ultimately, the cream will rise to the top because you make the best decisions.

“Yeah [I have used snus]. They are quite strong. I wasn’t a fan. I was a smoker for years. I hate to admit it and I don’t now thankfully.

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“I didn’t need them but I know loads of lads… because it was more accepted, socially, to have that in your mouth than to be sitting there smoking a fag.

“I actually think clubs should ban it because as soon as a player knows that something is banned, they start thinking why and automatically have a desire to understand it.

“While it is accepted, though some clubs don’t accept it, some have banned it, but I think all clubs should ban it.”

A study will interview players who have used snus, as well as staff at football clubs, to understand the attitude surrounding the product, which originates in Sweden.

Leicester star Jamie Vardy has admitted he was addicted to snus but has since quit, revealing he stopped using it in 2018.

The sale of snus is banned in the United Kingdom, though using it is not, and is formed from air-dried tobacco.

It is used by placing it under the upper lip and is left in place for anywhere between 30 minutes to 120 minutes.

Dr Michael Bennett from the PFA said: “We want to use research like this to better understand that trend, the motivations of players and how aware they are of the risks.

“We can then use that knowledge to play our part in ensuring members are aware of the negative impacts that can be associated with snus use.”

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