Yves Bissouma has spoken out about allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide following a spate of break-ins and robberies this summer that are said to have cost her £1 million. Last week, The Sun published footage purportedly showing the 29-year-old inhaling laughing gas, also known as “hippie crack.”
A Tottenham Hotspur spokesperson told the Press Association: “We are investigating the incident and it will be dealt with as an internal matter.” This is not the first time Bissouma has faced suspicions of inhaling nitrous oxide, with the midfielder joining from Brighton in 2022 having previously been sanctioned by the Lilywhites in 2024. At the time, Bissouma apologized and admitted he had shown a “significant lack of judgment.”
Possession of nitrous oxide for recreational purposes will be illegal in the UK from 2023 and can carry a two-year prison sentence. Bissouma was left out of Spurs’ first-team squad after a series of late arrivals ahead of Spurs’ Super Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain in August, and is yet to feature under Thomas Frank due to knee and ankle problems.
Mr Bisouuma revealed how the recent robbery had affected his mental health. He told The Sun newspaper: “I am sorry. This (recent break-in) has broken something inside me that I never thought I could break. I apologize to my fans. It has added more trauma to my life: fear, panic, depression and paranoia.”
Regarding the latest accusations, he said: “I feel really bad. I have to apologize. When the photo came out, it affected me and everyone, especially my family. My dad saw it and felt sick and panicked. It’s a painful image, but I tried to make him understand that it’s not who I am. I know it’s not good for me or my image, because I’m a professional football player.”
In July, the robbers fled with valuables such as luxury brand watches and handbags, and video footage shot by Bissouma showed empty display cases strewn on the floor as he declared:
“Well, it’s really crazy, like. What they did in my room is fucking… unbelievable. Just… oh my god. Look at all my watches. They took everything. They took my jewelry. They took my bag as well, everything.”
The watches stolen from Bissouma’s residence included a Rolex, Audemars Piguet and a Patek Philippe, each of which could fetch buyers hundreds of thousands of pounds. In another part of the interview, Bissouma said: “I’m a strong person.
“I am a mentally and physically strong African. I have faced battles and storms before, but these events… broke something inside me that I didn’t even know could be broken. I asked myself, ‘Why me?’ more times than I can count.
“I hate to feel like a victim, but what I lost wasn’t just material. It was the addition of trauma to my life: fear, panic, depression, paranoia, sleepless nights, and constant loss of trust. I don’t want to talk about it anymore, because it’s over. But I’m so sorry to my fans.”
Meanwhile, reports emerged in November that Mr Bissouma had lost more than £800,000 from his VIP Coutts bank account, and an individual has been charged in connection with the incident. The alleged thefts are believed to have occurred between September 2022 and June 2024, and Bisouuma is on high alert.
A source close to the midfielder revealed: “This is very hurtful for Yves. It’s been a tough year for him on and off the pitch and I think the weight of this weighing on his head has had an impact on that.”
