Nearly one in five professional footballers use snus or nicotine pouches, a new study from The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and Loughborough University has found.
Snus is a smokeless nicotine product, traditionally from Sweden, placed between the upper lip and gum line. Despite its growing use in the UK, its effects on footballers had not been formally studied until now.
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The study has revealed significant insights into the prevalence, usage patterns, and health impacts of snus and nicotine pouches among male and female footballers.
Its key findings include:
- 18 per cent of surveyed male players and 22 per cent of female players currently use snus or nicotine pouches.
- 42 per cent of male respondents and 39 per cent of female respondents have used the substance at least once.
- Over 50 per cent of current users in the men’s game indicated they want to quit.
- More than half of male users and almost three-quarters of female users reported elements of nicotine dependence.
The research, commissioned last year by the PFA and conducted by Loughborough University, surveyed 628 male and 51 female footballers, alongside interviews with 16 club performance and medical staff working in men’s and academy football. 31 per cent of male participants were from the Premier League, while all females taking part were from the Women’s Super League (WSL).
The study found that most players use legal tobacco-free nicotine pouches rather than traditional tobacco-based snus, often using the term ‘snus’ interchangeably. Players reported using these products socially to relax and spend time with team-mates, particularly after training, post-game, and on days off. Club staff noted that players frequently turned to snus to unwind from the adrenaline of evening matches.
Among users, significant nicotine dependence was reported, with 53 per cent of male and 73 per cent of female players experiencing withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability, and restlessness.
The study also highlighted a considerable gap in education, with 58 per cent of male and 86 per cent of female players reporting they had not received any information on the health impacts of snus use. They cited negative effects from snus use, including headaches, sickness, and disrupted sleep.
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Dr. Michael Bennett, director of player wellbeing at the PFA, said: “This is an important piece of work that will help players, clubs, and medical staff make informed decisions about snus use. We have been aware of snus use becoming more prevalent in dressing rooms across the country, but until now its use in professional football has not been formally explored.
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“Importantly, these findings tell us that while a lot of players appear to be looking to substances like snus as a coping mechanism to handle the growing demands of the game, many are not fully aware of its effects and addictive qualities.
“As the players’ union, our primary concern is our members’ welfare. This research will help us ensure that the PFA’s own support services, and those of club medical teams, are grounded in football-specific evidence and tailored to the needs of players.”
Lead researcher, Dr. Daniel Read from the Institute for Sport Business at Loughborough University London, added: “There has been growing interest concerning Snus use in English football and this project was a good opportunity to better understand how common its use is, as well as staff and player experiences.
“Overall, the findings show that snus and tobacco-free nicotine pouch use among professional footballers is higher than typically seen in the UK general population and players often use these products to relax and manage stress.
“Importantly, the study showed that most players had not received information or education about using nicotine pouches. This is a challenge for the game given the side-effects and difficulty experienced when trying to quit reported by players.”
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(Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty Images)
