Footballers need more support with addiction and mental health, PFA told

Dele Alli opened up on his childhood trauma, addiction to sleeping pills and mental health problems earlier this week. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

The Professional Footballers’ Association has been urged to do more to prevent addictions and mental health problems from escalating after Dele Alli, the Everton midfielder, spoke out about his addiction to sleeping pills.

Clarke Carlisle, a former chairman of the PFA who now works as a mental health consultant, said: “PFA intervention only comes on request. It’s a reactive measure. So invariably, they only get involved when players are having problems. And they’re in like crisis mode or disaster recovery.”