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Rachel V Thomas

Why Sleeping Pill Addiction Is Common Among Football Players

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway, players are navigating demanding training schedules, frequent travel, challenging weather conditions, and the pressure to perform at their peak. Amid these challenges, many elite footballers quietly face an often-overlooked problem off the field: sleep disturbances.

In an exclusive interview with HealthandMe, Dr. P.S.M. Chandran, former Director of Sports Medicine at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), said that the stress, anxiety, and disrupted routines associated with elite sport can make it difficult for players to get adequate rest. In some cases, these challenges may drive athletes toward sleeping medications, potentially affecting both their health and on-field performance.

Dr. Chandran, currently President of the Indian Federation of Sports Medicine (IFSM), said that while players may turn to sleeping pills as a quick solution, regular use can become a habit that leads to dependence if left unchecked.

Recently, striker Omar Bogle, who plays for Crewe Alexandra in League Two, shared his story with The New York Times' The Athletic about the moment last year when he became addicted to sleeping pills and painkillers.

What began as a way to help him sleep after suffering a back fracture during pre-season in the summer of 2024 became an addiction.

From January 2025, his usage accelerated to an alarming level. He said that many of the pills he was taking were benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and lorazepam. He was also using the stronger zopiclone pills, which the NHS says can be prescribed for the short-term treatment of severe insomnia.

"No one knew the extent of what I was doing," he said. "I never told anyone I was popping 18 or 19 of the things in the night."

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/fitness/fifa-world-cup-2026-what-keeps-messi-and-ronaldo-biologically-younger-than-their-age-experts-explain-article-154582345" data-type="tilCustomLink">FIFA World Cup 2026: What Keeps Messi and Ronaldo Biologically Younger Than Their Age? Experts Explain</a>

In January 2026, former England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey revealed on a podcast how he had become addicted to sleeping pills because of the loneliness he experienced while playing in Turkey. Shelvey said his dependence affected his relationship with his children.

Former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson also developed a sleeping pill addiction and, at his worst point, was taking 12 to 14 tablets a night, according to The New York Times.

In 2023, former Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder Dele Alli told the BBC that he had become addicted to sleeping pills to block out past traumas.

According to Dr. Chandran, the issue is not unique to football but affects athletes across multiple sports, driven by stress, performance pressures, injuries, and demanding schedules.

"Football is not an exception," Dr. Chandran said. "Because of its popularity, we hear more about football players, but athletes in other sports face similar problems."

<h2>Why Elite Footballers Face Sleep Issues? </h2>

Elite footballers operate in a high-pressure environment where careers can be influenced by contracts, team selection, injuries, and performance expectations. Frequent travel, changing time zones, training camps, and irregular eating patterns can further disrupt normal sleep cycles.

According to Dr. Chandran, these factors create significant psychological stress, making it difficult for athletes to unwind and get adequate rest.

"Athletes are always stressed because of their contracts with clubs, their interaction with coaches, and concerns about injuries that can affect their income," he explained. "All these tensions bring stress, and stress leads to sleep disturbance."

Read More: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/heading-to-fifa-world-cup-2026-heres-how-to-stay-safe-from-measles-heatstroke-and-more-article-154576576" data-type="tilCustomLink">Heading to FIFA World Cup 2026? Here's How to Stay Safe From Measles, Heatstroke</a>

<h2>Why Athletes Turn to Sleeping Pills</h2>

Sleep plays a crucial role in athletic recovery. Without adequate rest, muscle repair, mental focus, and physical performance can suffer.

"If athletes do not get good sleep, the next day's training will suffer," Dr. Chandran said. "To get better sleep, they try sleeping pills. That becomes an escape route for them."

However, he warned that regular use of sleeping medications can quickly develop into dependence.

"Once they start taking sleeping pills, it becomes a habit. It is difficult to get out of it," he told HealthandMe.

The expert noted that while occasional use under medical supervision may be appropriate in certain situations, unsupervised and prolonged use can worsen sleep problems and lead to dependence.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/22-treated-for-heat-illness-at-fifa-fan-festival-how-are-world-cup-players-protected-article-154583269" data-type="tilCustomLink">22 Treated For Heat Illness At FIFA Fan Festival: How Are World Cup Players Protected?</a>

Stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline are naturally involved in exercise and performance. However, elevated stress levels can interfere with healthy sleep patterns.

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These hormones increase alertness, heart rate, and metabolic activity—responses that may be useful during competition but can make it difficult to fall asleep afterward.

Dr. Chandran emphasized that athletes should seek professional guidance when dealing with sleep issues rather than relying on self-medication.

Modern sports science places a strong emphasis on recovery, recognizing it as an essential component of performance. Elite football clubs now employ teams of physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists, doctors, and recovery specialists to help athletes maintain optimal health.

"Training leads to tiredness, and tiredness has to be overcome by recovery methods," Dr. Chandran said. "The better you recover, the better you can perform the next day."

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As the FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway, players are navigating demanding training schedules, frequent travel, challenging weather conditions, and the pressure to perform at their peak. Amid these challenges, many elite footballers quietly face an often-overlooked problem off the field: sleep disturbances.In an exclusive interview with HealthandMe, Dr. P.S.M. Chandran, former Director of Sports Medicine at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), said that the stress, anxiety, and disrupted routines associated with elite sport can make it difficult for players to get adequate rest. In some cases, these challenges may drive athletes toward sleeping medications, potentially affecting both their health and on-field performance.Dr. Chandran, currently President of the Indian Federation of Sports Medicine (IFSM), said that while players may turn to sleeping pills as a quick solution, regular use can become a habit that leads to dependence if left unchecked.Recently, striker Omar Bogle, who plays for Crewe Alexandra in League Two, shared his story with The New York Times' The Athletic about the moment last year when he became addicted to sleeping pills and painkillers.What began as a way to help him sleep after suffering a back fracture during pre-season in the summer of 2024 became an addiction.From January 2025, his usage accelerated to an alarming level. He said that many of the pills he was taking were benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and lorazepam. He was also using the stronger zopiclone pills, which the NHS says can be prescribed for the short-term treatment of severe insomnia."No one knew the extent of what I was doing," he said. "I never told anyone I was popping 18 or 19 of the things in the night."Bogle's is not alone. Also read: FIFA World Cup 2026: What Keeps Messi and Ronaldo Biologically Younger Than Their Age? Experts ExplainIn January 2026, former England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey revealed on a podcast how he had become addicted to sleeping pills because of the loneliness he experienced while playing in Turkey. Shelvey said his dependence affected his relationship with his children.Former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson also developed a sleeping pill addiction and, at his worst point, was taking 12 to 14 tablets a night, according to The New York Times.In 2023, former Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder Dele Alli told the BBC that he had become addicted to sleeping pills to block out past traumas.According to Dr. Chandran, the issue is not unique to football but affects athletes across multiple sports, driven by stress, performance pressures, injuries, and demanding schedules."Football is not an exception," Dr. Chandran said. "Because of its popularity, we hear more about football players, but athletes in other sports face similar problems."Why Elite Footballers Face Sleep Issues? Elite footballers operate in a high-pressure environment where careers can be influenced by contracts, team selection, injuries, and performance expectations. Frequent travel, changing time zones, training camps, and irregular eating patterns can further disrupt normal sleep cycles.According to Dr. Chandran, these factors create significant psychological stress, making it difficult for athletes to unwind and get adequate rest."Athletes are always stressed because of their contracts with clubs, their interaction with coaches, and concerns about injuries that can affect their income," he explained. "All these tensions bring stress, and stress leads to sleep disturbance."Read More: Heading to FIFA World Cup 2026? Here's How to Stay Safe From Measles, HeatstrokeWhy Athletes Turn to Sleeping PillsSleep plays a crucial role in athletic recovery. Without adequate rest, muscle repair, mental focus, and physical performance can suffer."If athletes do not get good sleep, the next day's training will suffer," Dr. Chandran said. "To get better sleep, they try sleeping pills. That becomes an escape route for them."However, he warned that regular use of sleeping medications can quickly develop into dependence."Once they start taking sleeping pills, it becomes a habit. It is difficult to get out of it," he told HealthandMe.The expert noted that while occasional use under medical supervision may be appropriate in certain situations, unsupervised and prolonged use can worsen sleep problems and lead to dependence.Also read: 22 Treated For Heat Illness At FIFA Fan Festival: How Are World Cup Players Protected?The Role of Stress HormonesStress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline are naturally involved in exercise and performance. However, elevated stress levels can interfere with healthy sleep patterns.         These hormones increase alertness, heart rate, and metabolic activity—responses that may be useful during competition but can make it difficult to fall asleep afterward.Dr. Chandran emphasized that athletes should seek professional guidance when dealing with sleep issues rather than relying on self-medication.Recovery Is Key to PerformanceModern sports science places a strong emphasis on recovery, recognizing it as an essential component of performance. Elite football clubs now employ teams of physiotherapists, psychologists, nutritionists, doctors, and recovery specialists to help athletes maintain optimal health."Training leads to tiredness, and tiredness has to be overcome by recovery methods," Dr. Chandran said. "The better you recover, the better you can perform the next day."

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Why Sleeping Pill Addiction Is Common Among Football Players

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