WITH the celebrity status and huge sums of money credited to professional footballers, it is really no surprise that some find themselves falling victim to temptation and over-indulging in things that money can buy.
And the young age at which many players become superstars makes them extra vulnerable.
They are also less likely than those with family responsibilities to be equpped to resist the lure of excessive gambling, drink and even using drugs - all things which seem to have become associated with some high-earning sporting success stories.
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It's not a new phenomenon either. Just look at the sad later life and death of George Best.
The explosion and easy accessibility of internet gambling has also made losing large sums of money a fast and simple matter.
And as former Blackburn Rovers striker Simon Garner points out today, for someone earning £100,000 a week, to put on a £10,000 bet is really no different to an ordinary working man putting on a £20 bet.
Football clubs now pay more attention to protecting their human investments than they did in George Best's heyday - with professionals ready to help thwart any potential problems.
And so they should, for the sake of the fans who dig deep to watch their heroes as well as the players themselves.
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