Footballers seem to love a night out at the casino. With big wages to blow, some of our top stars are known to enjoy a flutter.
Unfortunately, they often end up getting into trouble, embarrassing situations or a combination of both on their nights out. Despite the fact that you can now play some of the best games online, the lure of the casino seems to be too great.
Here are some of the players who have courted controversy at a casino.
Jamie Vardy
England international got himself into hot water last summer when he was accused of using a racist slur towards a fellow gambler at a poker table. The Sun ran an exclusive in which he was said to have used the word “Jap” repeatedly in a heated exchange with someone he felt was looking at his cards.
Papiss Cisse
Newcastle striker Cisse was trying to make a stand over the club’s Wonga shirt sponsorship in 2013. The Senegal international said promoting the money lender was against his Muslim faith. Alas, his pious stance was undermined slightly when a photo emerged showing him at a casino.
Federico Macheda
Manchester United’s one-time wonderkid once infamously had his name and identity circulated to casinos by then manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was keen to point out that the Italian striker was underage and should be refused entry.
Phil Bardsley
The then Sunderland defender felt the wrath of manager Paolo Di Canio in May 2013 after he was photographed lying on a pile of £50 notes on a casino floor. He was axed from the squad for a subsequent match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Kelvin Etuhu
Currently at Bury, Etuhu was released by Manchester City in 2011 after being jailed for eight months due to an assault outside a Manchester casino in February 2010. He admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray after a spat inside the casino had spilled onto the street outside.
