Cardiff City footballer Connor Wickham shared a video of himself appearing to inhale laughing gas hours after playing in Saturday's home defeat to rivals Swansea City. The striker posted the footage on Instagram less than a week after the UK Government announced plans to make possession of nitrous oxide a criminal offence. The Bluebirds have told WalesOnline they are investigating.
The former Sunderland star, who turned 30 on Friday, came on as a substitute in the south Wales derby which the Swans won 3-2 with a 99th-minute winner from Ben Cabango. In the evening Wickham posted an Instagram story, which is no longer visible, in which he appeared to film himself breathing in the potentially dangerous gas in a vehicle with people dancing and singing to music.
The video sparked criticism from some Cardiff fans on social media. One supporter Cullan Mais posted on his Central Club podcast's Twitter page: "Lee Trundle attending the game today shows the passion and spirit of the Jacks. Connor Wickham taking [laughing gas] hours after a dire performance in the derby shows the lack of care, quality and control of the Bluebirds. Cardiff City I am speechless."
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Following publication of this article Wickham posted a statement on Instagram: "I'm obviously aware of a video circulating on social media. I know my responsibility as a professional. Playing for Cardiff City is a huge privilege, I've been so welcomed by you all and I will always give 100%. To lose the game the way we did yesterday hurt more than ever, even though you will feel it doesn't seem that way to me. I hope you can all understand and I will do my best [to] help my team and this club to achieve the best possible outcome this season!"
Nitrous oxide, often called NOS, is commonly sold in metal canisters and is one of the most-used drugs by young people in the UK, according to the BBC. It is already illegal to produce or supply the gas for its psychoactive effects and just days ago the UK Government said possession would also be banned due to concern over "health and social harms" caused by the drug. Heavy use can damage nerves in the spinal column.
A Cardiff City spokesman said the club was "looking into" the footage posted by Wickham. The former England Under-21 forward, who has yet to score in five games since joining Cardiff in February, came on for Sheyi Ojo against Swansea in the 61st minute. In a match report WalesOnline rated Wickham's performance five out of 10, writing: "Helped Kaba out with the target-man role when he was introduced. Had players doubling up on him, though, and was unable to get any sort of chance on goal."
Footballers to have attracted criticism for reported laughing gas use include Mason Greenwood, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Leon Bailey, Saido Berahino, Alexandre Lacazette, Matteo Guendouzi, Mesut Ozil, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Last year the drug was linked to the death of 29-year-old former Ajax winger Jody Lukoki. According to the BBC, "police reported that Lukoki had died of natural causes – an infection with unknown roots but which had possibly been caused by months of alleged substance abuse, when the so-called laughing gas became anything but funny".
The UK Government's stance goes against recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs which recently advised against criminalising possession of nitrous oxide. But levelling up secretary Michael Gove told the BBC: "We are doing this because if you walk through any urban park you will see these little silver canisters which are the evidence of people regarding public spaces as arenas for drug-taking. It is unacceptable. People should feel those spaces are being looked after in a way which means they are safe for children."
Some drugs charities have criticised the proposals. Steve Rolles, of the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, said: "The idea that this is a deterrent effect is ridiculous it just criminalises users and will hand control of the product to criminal gangs. This is just political theatre – if you need any proof you just need to see that they have ignored their own advisers. This is a particularly ugly example of performative politics."
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