Being a professional footballer today involves not only fame and fortune but also a dedication to fitness and training.  In the past is was widely accepted that footballers would lead the party lifestyle drinking, smoking and not looking after their bodies.  As far back as the early 1900s cigarette companies and some footballers actually formed advertising partnerships.  In the 1890s cigarette packets were sold with a card containing an image of a popular player, and the famous Sir Stanley Matthews over fifty years later promoted a particular brand of cigarettes.  Today professional players follow strict diet and training regimes and are even subject to curfews and restrictions during the main playing season particularly prior to big matches.  It is surprising then to see some of our favourite stars with a cigarette in their mouth.

Smoking is widely publicised as dangerous to health, it damages the lungs and can cause breathing problems as well as cancer.  In recent years the government has introduced a range of measures to encourage the younger generation to refrain from starting to smoke, as well as encouraging established smokers to quit the habit.  These measures include higher taxation, cigarettes not on view in shops, health warnings on the packaging, a smoking ban in public places and free access to programmes aimed at helping people to quit.  Smoking still remains a widespread problem however, these government initiatives do seem to be slowly helping to reduce the number of smokers.

Smoking is nowhere near as popular amongst footballers as it once was however, there are still a number of players who wear Premier League Kits each week who have been spotted smoking a cigarette.  One of the most popular stars who has recently been seen smoking is Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, and the popular Balotelli who played for Manchester City likes to have five or six cigarettes a day.  These players train hard everyday following strict routines implemented by some of the best sports science and fitness professionals in the country, they have their fitness levels and heart rate continually monitored during training sessions.  Surely smoking reduces the efficiency of such training and adversely affects health and performance, should there be a clause in their contracts banning them from smoking?

Professional footballers such as those who wear the Premier League Kits are seen as role models and idols amongst many children.  It is a long standing issue with celebrities, including footballers, that their lifestyle and habits are closely watched by the media, younger fans are seen as impressionable and want to impersonate these stars as they desire to be the professional footballers of the future.  It is therefore, questionable as to whether the smoking habits of some of these players may cause their younger fans to follow suit and take up the habit as it is perceived to be fashionable and an acceptable lifestyle choice.

What do you think of professional footballers who smoke?

Should footballers be contractually obliged to maintain their health, and portray a professional image to impressionable youngsters by not smoking?

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