FourFourTwo Poll Reveals Presence of Racism, Match Fixing, Drugs and Homophobia in Football

A recent poll among 100 top football players conducted by a leading football magazine reveals that racism, homophobia, match fixing and drugs are more prevalent in the game that initially thought.

The shock findings emerged from the Players' Poll, which was conducted by respected magazine FourFourTwo, and the interviewed aces included 11 Premier League aces, the Sun reports.

More than a quarter of the players (26 per cent) said they had heard another player make a racist comment during a match, and around half of them agreed that some of their fellow professional regularly take recreational drugs such as cocaine, while 14 per cent admitted knowing that match-fixing goes on in the game, the paper reports.

Around 25 per cent believed that a footballer who came out as gay would be treated as an outcast, it added.

The poll also suggested drug taking is also rife, as one of the Premier League star said that what goes on in the wider world is reflected in sport and the problem is proving it, the paper further report.

Half of those asked also thought recreational drugs are used by teammates and opponents, mostly during the summer when players are on holiday.

Of match fixing, a League Two defender said: "It goes on. I've had players call me and tell me to bet on the outcome of a match, especially at the end of the season I've never been approached myself, but I know it goes on."

Source: ANI