:Smoking in association football
{{Short description|Aspect of culture in sports}}
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File:SarriChelsea (cropped).png in 2018, chewing a cigarette butt during a Premier League match due to England's smoking ban]]
The issue of smoking in association football is a historical controversy. Traditionally, football managers would smoke on the touch-line as well as players smoking away from the pitch. However, increasing public health concerns and stricter regulations have led to widespread smoking restrictions in football. Smoking is now largely banned from stadiums around the world, but some individual players and managers have continued to smoke.
History
In the early 20th century, smoking among players and coaches was common in professional football.{{cite web|last=Magee |first=Will |url=https://sports.vice.com/en_uk/article/nzxdqq/analysing-the-smoking-habits-of-footballers-and-iconic-managers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423075804/https://sports.vice.com/en_uk/article/nzxdqq/analysing-the-smoking-habits-of-footballers-and-iconic-managers |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 April 2019 |title=Analyzing The Smoking Habits of Soccer Players and Iconic Managers |publisher=Vice |date=29 March 2017 |access-date=22 May 2021}} In the 1930s, top footballers in England were used to promote cigarette brands as players often smoked.{{cite web|url=https://sportslens.com/smoking-in-football/86928/ |title=Football and Smoking: Past and Present |publisher=Sportslens.com |date=20 April 2012 |access-date=22 May 2021}} Cigarette cards were collectible cards from cigarette packets, of which images of footballers were a popular variety.{{cite web |title=Football Cigarette Cards |url=https://spartacus-educational.com/Fcigarette.htm |publisher=Spartacus Educational |access-date=25 May 2021}} Bobby Robson was among the first players to assert his image rights, receiving three guineas for his image on cigarette cards.{{cite web |title=Former England coach Bobby Robson dies at 76 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20090731-former-england-coach-bobby-robson-dies-76- |publisher=France 24 |access-date=25 May 2021 |date=31 July 2009}} Through cigarette advertising, Sir Stanley Matthews became aware of emerging scientific research linking smoking to cancer. Some managers at the time also would not allow smoking around their players, with the Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman asking players if they smoked or drank alcohol before attempting to sign them{{cite web |url=https://spartacus-educational.com/ARSENALchapman.htm |title=Herbert Chapman |publisher=Spartacus Educational |access-date=22 May 2021}} and the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Frank Buckley issuing club rules prohibiting players from smoking for two days prior to a match.
File:Cesar menotti smoking.jpg]]
After World War II, prominent footballers like Jack Charlton, Johan Cruyff, Preben Elkjær{{cite web |title=Danish Dynamite: The Players {{!}} Rob Smyth and Lars Eriksen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/oct/13/danish-dynamite-the-players |website=The Guardian |language=en |date=13 October 2009}} and Sócrates were known to smoke. In the 1950s, when Wilf McGuinness became a reserve team manager at Manchester United, where he managed players he had played with, he was encouraged to start smoking as a way to assert his authority as a manager.{{cite web |url=https://www.balls.ie/football/whatever-happened-smoking-football-managers-110503 |title=Whatever happened to smoking football managers? |publisher=Balls.ie |date=3 March 2014 |access-date=22 May 2021}}
Bans
Growing opposition to smoking led to governing bodies placing restrictions on smoking around football. In 1985, following the Bradford City stadium fire which was attributed to a discarded cigarette setting accumulated litter alight, The Football Association banned smoking in all wooden stands in England.{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/horror-city-can-never-forget-1819251 |title=The horror a city can never forget |work=Yorkshire Post |date=4 May 2015 |access-date=22 May 2021}} A 1986 academic paper discovered that only 5% of professional footballers smoked.{{cite journal | last1=Hutchinson | first1=D R | last2=Mountain | first2=N J | last3=McLatchie | first3=G R | title=Smoking habits in professional football. | journal=British Journal of Sports Medicine | volume=20 | issue=3 | date=1986-09-01 | issn=0306-3674 | pmid=3779337 | doi=10.1136/bjsm.20.3.113 | pages=113–114 | pmc=1478346 | url=https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/20/3/113 | access-date=2022-04-12}} In 2002, FIFA introduced a smoking ban for stadiums during the 2002 FIFA World Cup however this complete ban was later dropped for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|author=Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com) |url=https://www.dw.com/en/activists-urge-fifa-to-bring-back-smoking-ban/a-2037217 |title=Activists Urge FIFA to Bring Back Smoking Ban |publisher=DW |date=31 May 2006 |access-date=22 May 2021}} Despite this, a ban on smoking on the touchline during the tournament was still enforced with the Mexico national football team manager Ricardo La Volpe receiving an official warning for smoking during his team's group stage match against the Iran national football team.{{cite web |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2006-06-13-mexico-coach-in-trouble-for-lighting-up/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502112217/https://mg.co.za/article/2006-06-13-mexico-coach-in-trouble-for-lighting-up/ |title=Mexico coach in trouble for lighting up |work=The Mail and Guardian |date=13 June 2006 |archive-date=2 May 2019 |access-date=22 May 2021 |via=Wayback Machine}}
In 2003 UEFA announced that during European competitions from the 2004–05 season, smoking would be banned from the touchline and technical areas but would be allowed inside the dressing room where local laws permitted.{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=134089.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604093834/https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=134089.html |title=Last puff for touchline smokers |publisher=UEFA |archive-date=4 June 2020 |date=16 December 2003 |access-date=22 May 2021 |via=Wayback Machine}} The AC Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti was reprimanded for breaking this rule in 2007 for smoking during Milan's UEFA Champions League match against Celtic at Celtic Park.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/sarri-ancelotti-lippi-vialli-smoking/2fe561ff3re11fzsfmz6y5a9u |title=Besides Sarri, here are three other Italian managers who love a puff |publisher=Goal.com |date=25 August 2018 |access-date=22 May 2021}} In 2010, as part of their stadium code of conduct, FIFA banned smoking in all areas of stadiums being used in their competitions.{{cite web|author=FIFA.com |url=https://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/news/y=2017/m=5/news=russian-showpieces-to-be-tobacco-free-events-2890503.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531110603/http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/news/y=2017/m=5/news=russian-showpieces-to-be-tobacco-free-events-2890503.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 May 2017 |title=Russian showpieces to be tobacco-free events |publisher=FIFA |date= |access-date=22 May 2021}} Smoking is banned from stadiums in Mexico and the Tigres UANL manager Ricardo Ferretti was banned for one match after smoking on the substitutes bench during their match against Santos Laguna in 2021.{{cite web | last=Garcia | first=Adriana | title=Manager banned for smoking on bench in match | publisher=ESPN | date=2021-01-20 | url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/tigres/story/4293596/tigres-boss-ferretti-banned-for-smoking-during-game | access-date=2021-07-27}}
File:Smoking is prohibited at Goodison Park (23699773434).jpg
In England, clubs also started to ban smoking from several areas in their grounds. In 2005, Everton announced that Goodison Park would become a no-smoking stadium with a total ban on smoking anywhere in the ground, the first in England.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/football-stadium-ban-gives-smokers-the-blues-over-ban-5344858.html |title=Football stadium ban gives smokers the blues over ban |work=The Independent |date=22 January 2005 |access-date=22 May 2021}} Other grounds followed suit with the City of Manchester Stadium and Sunderland's Stadium of Light banning smoking by 2006.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/feb/17/politics.gdnsport3 |title=Public to have their say on whether smoking ban is enforced at sports grounds | Sport |work=The Guardian |date=17 February 2006 |access-date=22 May 2021}} In Wales, the Millennium Stadium introduced a smoking ban in 2006 following encouragement from the Welsh Government.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4533470.stm |title=New Year smoking ban for stadium |publisher=BBC News |date=15 December 2005 |access-date=22 May 2021}} In Northern Ireland, in 2007 the Irish Football Association banned smoking from all Northern Ireland national football team matches at Windsor Park.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6387543.stm |title=No smoking at Windsor NI matches |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 February 2007 |access-date=22 May 2021}}
In 2011, Spain banned smoking indoors in all stadiums.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/8412266/Barcelona-considers-smoking-ban-at-Camp-Nou.html |title=Barcelona considers smoking ban at Camp Nou |work=The Telegraph |url-access=subscription |date=2011-03-28 |access-date=2021-07-24}} However, players and spectators were still permitted to smoke in outdoor areas of stadiums. Individual clubs, such as Barcelona instituted separate complete bans on smoking anywhere within their grounds.{{cite news |author=AP |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-barcelona-ratifies-qatar-shirt-deal-bans-smoking-2011sep25-story.html |title=Barcelona ratifies Qatar shirt deal, bans smoking |work=The San Diego Union Tribune |date=2011-09-25 |access-date=2021-07-24}} Real Madrid continued to allow smoking at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium but they announced in 2019 that once they had completed renovations of the stadium, smoking would be banned.{{cite news |first=Tomás |last=Roncero |title=Real Madrid: The next Trofeo Bernabéu will be in 2021 |url=https://en.as.com/en/2019/09/10/football/1568113883_546899.html |work=Diario AS |date=2019-09-10 |access-date=2021-07-24}} In the same year, Argentina passed legislation banning smoking in several public places but smoking in football stadiums was specifically excluded from this ban.{{cite news |url=https://www.americasquarterly.org/blog/argentina-passes-strict-anti-tobacco-laws/ |title=Argentina passes strict anti-tobacco laws |work=America's Quarterly |date=2011-06-02 |access-date=2021-07-28}} Brazil passed a similar law excluding football stadiums from stricter smoking restrictions in 2014.{{cite web | title=Brazil acts to further curb smoking with new law | website=The Union | date=2014-12-12 | url=https://theunion.org/news/brazil-acts-to-further-curb-smoking-with-new-law | access-date=2021-07-28}}
In 2013, Slaven Bilić then manager of Turkish team Beşiktaş, was given a warning by the Turkish Football Federation. Having been photographed while smoking watching a Galatasaray versus Gaziantepspor game at the Türk Telekom Arena, Bilic was told that a further transgression would result in a fine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/slaven-bilic-given-no-smoking-warning-by-turkish-football-federation--53339|title=Slaven Bilic given 'no smoking' warning by Turkish Football Federation |access-date=24 May 2022|date=27 August 2013|website=Hürriyet Daily News}}
France banned smoking from the touchline in 2014.{{cite web |url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/france-bans-touchline-smoking |title=France bans touchline smoking |access-date=2021-07-24 |publisher=SBS}} In 2018, the Russian Football Union instituted a rule prohibiting Russia national football team players from smoking at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|author=The Moscow Times |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2018/03/30/russian-football-union-instructs-players-not-smoke-hookah-ahead-world-cup-a61003 |title=Russian Football Union Instructs Players Not to Smoke Hookah Ahead of World Cup |work=The Moscow Times |date=2018-03-30 |access-date=2021-06-06}} The decision aligned with Russian public health policies, with President of Russia Vladimir Putin publicly advocating for reduced smoking among fans.{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d064e75a-56b7-3392-a325-2dafe7a4bd2d |title=Putin: "quit smoking and drinking, watch the World Cup" |work=Financial Times |url-access=subscription |date= |access-date=2021-06-06}} In 2021, Paraguay banned smoking in all crowded public areas.{{cite web | title=Public Smoking Banned Across South America | website=Tobacco Reporter | date=2021-01-13 | url=https://tobaccoreporter.com/2021/01/13/public-smoking-banned-across-south-america/ | access-date=2021-07-28}}
Post-bans
Despite the bans into the 21st century, some footballers and managers continued to smoke. In 2004, Joey Barton stubbed out a cigar in the eye of his Manchester City teammate Jamie Tandy and was sued successfully for £65,000.{{cite news |first=Luke |last=Traynor |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/convicted-footballer-who-cigar-stubbed-11223543 |title=Convicted footballer who had cigar stubbed on eye by Joey Barton blames attack for downward spiral |work=Liverpool Echo |date=21 April 2016 |access-date=22 May 2021}} The French player Zinedine Zidane was hired by the European Union to front their anti-smoking campaign in 2002 but was later seen in 2006 smoking.{{cite news |first=Simon |last=Hattenstone |title=He shoots, he scores, he lights another fag |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/07/newsstory.sport |work=The Guardian |date=2006-07-07 |access-date=2021-07-24}} The Italian manager, Maurizio Sarri would regularly smoke with Napoli and RB Leipzig building concrete sheds on the touchline so he could legally smoke.{{cite web |url=https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/maurizio-sarri-and-cigarettes-a-timeline-of-a-turbulent-relationship/ |title=Maurizio Sarri and cigarettes: A timeline of a turbulent relationship |publisher=Planet Football |date=30 August 2019 |access-date=22 May 2021}} When he became manager of Chelsea in England where smoking is banned indoors, he started to chew on cigarette butts.{{cite web|author=MARCA |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2018/08/13/5b71b180e5fdea0d0c8b45cf.html |title=Sarri chews cigarette filters to counteract smoking ban |publisher=Marca |date=13 August 2018 |access-date=22 May 2021}} The Germany national football team manager Joachim Löw received criticism from the German press after being filmed smoking in a spectator box for the UEFA Euro 2008 quarter-final when he was serving a touchline ban. Löw responded by saying: "What should I say about it? It is my private thing. I am just human, with strengths and weaknesses. I smoke a cigarette sometimes, or drink a glass of red wine in the evening. It is not as if I am a hedonist."{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.de/20080622/12643/ |title=Jogi says stress cigarette his business |publisher=The Local de |date=22 June 2008 |access-date=22 May 2021}} The Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner attested that on his first day at Juventus in Italy, he found his teammates Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo smoking in a toilet.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08ycgfs |title=Bendtner: I found Buffon and Pirlo smoking in a toilet! |publisher=BBC Radio 5 |date=2020-11-03 |access-date=2021-06-06}}
In the 2010s, a number of football managers enforced an anti-smoking ethos in their clubs. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, who used to smoke on the touchline as manager of Monaco and used to sell cigarettes before entering football,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/10/arsene-wenger-sell-cigarettes-arsenal-manager |title=Arsène Wenger: I used to sell cigarettes, says Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger |work=The Guardian |date=10 January 2015 |access-date=22 May 2021}} criticised Jack Wilshere in 2013 after Wilshere was filmed smoking.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24400297 |title=Jack Wilshere: Wenger criticises midfielder's smoking |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 October 2013 |access-date=22 May 2021}} He also issued a £20,000 fine to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny for smoking in the Emirates Stadium dressing room.{{cite web|last=Wilson |first=Jeremy |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/11337022/Arsene-Wenger-I-used-to-smoke-in-the-dugout-and-worked-as-a-cigarette-salesman.html |title=Arsene Wenger: I used to smoke in the dugout and worked as a cigarette salesman |publisher=Telegraph |date=9 January 2015 |access-date=22 May 2021}} Guus Hiddink was fined when he was manager of Chelsea after being filmed smoking a cigar in the Wembley Stadium dressing rooms following Chelsea's win in the 2009 FA Cup Final.{{Cite web |first=Ian |last=Watson |url=https://www.football365.com/news/fa-cup-finals-ranked-since-2000-arsenal-liverpool-gerrard-man-utd-chelsea |title=Gerrard final ranks top of 21 FA Cup showpieces of 21st century… |publisher=Football365 |date=15 May 2021 |access-date=22 May 2021}}
Former smoking football players and coaches later came to express dissent against smoking. Cruyff, who had stopped smoking in 1991 due to heart problems and promoted anti-smoking campaigns subsequently, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015 which had been linked to his smoking during his playing career.{{cite web|last=Hayward |first=Paul |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/11948459/Johan-Cruyff-the-Total-Footballer-facing-toughest-fight.html |title=Johan Cruyff the Total Footballer facing toughest fight |publisher=Telegraph |date=22 October 2015 |access-date=22 May 2021}} In 2004, Sócrates pulled out of a match after 20 minutes whilst playing for the English non-league Garforth Town on the grounds that he had smoked too many cigarettes in order to continue.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/21/seven-deadly-sins-socrates-brazil |title=Socrates, the smoking supremo |work=The Guardian |date=21 May 2009 |access-date=22 May 2021}} In the days leading up to his passing in 2020, Diego Maradona was filmed smoking while appearing visibly unwell.{{cite web |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2020/12/12/5fd4ed7a46163f875b8b4624.html |title=Controversial video of Maradona drinking and smoking days before brain surgery goes viral |publisher=Marca |date=2020-12-12 |access-date=2021-06-06}}
Premier League regulations prohibit vaping inside stadiums, although rules may vary for designated outdoor areas.{{cite news |title=E-Cigarettes Prohibited At Molineux |url=https://www.wolves.co.uk/news/club/20180803-e-cigarettes-prohibited-at-molineux/ |access-date=25 May 2021 |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. |date=3 August 2018}} As it is not banned by the law, English Football League and Scottish Premiership grounds have permitted spectators to vape, and have allowed vaping companies to sell products inside.{{cite web|last1=O'Reilly |first1=Lara |title=SKYCIG signs deal with Wolves to let fans puff at Molineux |url=https://www.marketingweek.com/skycig-signs-deal-with-wolves-to-let-fans-puff-at-molineux/ |access-date=25 May 2021 |publisher=Marketing Week |date=16 October 2013}}{{cite web |title=Rangers to introduce 'vaping' at Ibrox |url=https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2018/04/03/rangers-introduce-vaping-ibrox/ |publisher=The Stadium Business |date=3 April 2018|access-date=25 May 2021}} In 2022, Blackburn Rovers signed a sponsorship deal with a local vaping company. According to FA rules, sponsorship related to vaping cannot appear on youth kits. These same rules exist for alcohol or gambling, while tobacco sponsorship is banned on both adult and youth kits.{{cite news |title=Prime minister questioned over vapes advertising on sports kits |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/68942758 |access-date=19 May 2024 |publisher=BBC News |date=2 May 2024}}