Gaming addiction in football stars on the rise since COVID-19 lockdown: Report

coronavirus pandemic has seen a massive rise in gaming diction among footballers, a recent report has revealed. pandemic and subsequent lockdown meant that players were confined in ir homes and gaming represented an appealing respite to players. While matches and leagues have resumed, footballers on Twitch are having a hard time letting go of ir diction.

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Footballers are seeking treatment as gaming diction rises during lockdown 

According to a report by Daily Mail, lockdown has seen a massive rise in gaming diction amongst footballers. report stated that Steve Pope, one of country's top diction counsellors, is currently helping 15 professional and 30 semi-professional footballers with ir diction, which is three times number of his usual clientele. report furr states that  PFA and Sporting Chance have also been contacted by clubs as diction keeps gripping more and more players. Pope stated that fascination towards gaming was spiralling out of control.

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PFA have a 24-hour helpline for players and have been asked by clubs to speak about gaming habits. He said that gaming became more appealing after lockdown started and footballers h thing to do in ir past time. Pope ded that footballers have obsessive personalities and y have more time on ir hands than anybody to play.

diction expert furr stated that gaming diction is mentally destructive and it is a silent epidemic that never gets attention it deserves. Steve Pope said that irrespective of diction, re needs to be a large support network to cover things.

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Pope likened gaming diction to alcohol diction, stating that taking controller off a 20-year-old is like denying an alcoholic last dregs of a bottle of whisky. Gaming disorder has been listed as a mental health condition by World Health Organisation since 2018 and National Health Service (NHS) h launched first National Centre for Gaming Disorders to treat patients d between 13 and 25 last year.

Last year, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said that he saw issue as ' same as alcoholism or drug diction' and revealed that he turned off WiFi in team hotels to protect his players.

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Former Man City player sheds light on how gaming diction is seen in society

Former Man City player Jeff Whitley who is PFA's Player Welfare Executive told Sportsmail that people do t see gaming diction on same lines as alcohol or drug diction.

Whitley said that clubs need to be aware of players gaming habits, as diction could le to m neglecting or aspects of ir life. Sporting Chance, a mental health charity set up by former England captain Tony ams, have also taken calls on gaming and run an increasing number of education sessions on subject. Alex Mills, he of education said that players will talk openly about staying up gaming a bit late quite frequently and frequency has increased in recent times suggesting problematic behaviour. 

(Im Courtesy: Indi Gaming Instagram)