Players talked about how worries caused by gambling — usually poker games on the coach or at hotels before matches — had impaired performances on the pitch.

“Players gamble as a way of relieving the boredom on journeys to away games and after training on pre-season tours,” said Mr Law, who carried out the research as part of his PhD. “Contrary to popular opinion, their actions are heavily regulated and constrained, so they get easily bored.”

But gambling losses could affect their performance. “Players were unable to function to the level expected, and this leads to resentment in the team about their gambling.”

Gambling sure seems like it causes more problems than it solves.