Tottenham Hotspur have launched a fresh disciplinary investigation into midfielder Yves Bissouma after new footage surfaced allegedly showing him inhaling nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, at a social gathering.
The incident is understood to have taken place in early November, marking the second time in just over a year that the Mali international has been caught up in a similar controversy. The development has heightened concerns within the club about his conduct and reliability during a season already complicated by injuries and earlier disciplinary problems.
A Tottenham spokesperson confirmed that the midfielder’s behaviour was under review, saying the club is “looking into the events and will deal with the matter internally.” Though the club has not publicly announced any penalties, the fact that this is a repeat incident is expected to weigh heavily on the outcome.
Within Spurs, there is a growing feeling that the midfielder has tested the club’s patience once too often.
The timing of the latest incident is also significant. Bissouma is currently sidelined after undergoing ankle surgery in October and has yet to make an appearance under new head coach Thomas Frank. For an injured player already away from competitive action, being associated with another off-field controversy has done little to help his standing within the squad.
This is not the first time Bissouma has faced internal disciplinary measures. In August, he was dropped from the club’s squad travelling for a major European fixture after repeated lateness, an issue Frank described as “one too many” in a series of behaviour-related concerns.
That decision served as an early indicator that Frank was demanding higher standards from his players, and it left Bissouma on thin ice long before the new video emerged.
The midfielder was previously recorded using laughing gas in August 2024. After the clip spread online, he issued a public apology, calling it a “severe lack of judgement” and expressing remorse for undermining his responsibilities as both a professional and a role model.
Tottenham responded with a one-match suspension, and then-manager Ange Postecoglou said he believed Bissouma could rebuild trust within the team. At the time, Postecoglou explained that the player needed to prove his commitment, saying Bissouma “needs to build that trust back with both me and the group.”
Although Bissouma did return and went on to feature regularly during the 2023-24 campaign, contributing to Spurs’ European success, his fall from favour in the months since has been stark. Any goodwill earned during that period now appears to have evaporated, especially as the new alleged breach comes at a time when nitrous oxide possession carries added legal risks.
The gas was reclassified as a Class C drug in the UK in 2023, meaning recreational use can attract criminal consequences, something Premier League clubs take seriously due to the reputational implications.
Complicating matters further, Bissouma has recently removed references to Tottenham from his social media accounts. While players often update their profiles for various reasons, the timing of this change has fueled speculation about his long-term future at the club.
For many fans, the gesture has been interpreted as a sign of deteriorating relations behind the scenes.
Tottenham now faces a complex decision regarding the player’s immediate and long-term status. Internally, the club must weigh the seriousness of the alleged offence, the recurring nature of the behaviour, and the potential impact on the team’s image.
With Bissouma injured, unavailable for selection, and again under scrutiny, Tottenham’s leadership will need to determine whether further disciplinary action will be aimed at rehabilitation or whether it signals a severing of ties.