‘I’m a part-time drug seller and set to earn double this summer time because of Euros’

A drug dealer has boasted how he’ll make double his usual earnings this summer thanks to the Euros.

Cocaine has long been associated with football fandom whether from club away days to watching big internationals down the local boozer. In fact the Class A substance is so entwined with football culture that a study last year described its use as ‘extensive’ and a bigger factor behind matchday aggression than alcohol.

Research led by University of Stirling’s Dr Richard Purves, found Cocaine and alcohol consumed together create a ‘perfect mix’ for supporters to become aggressive.

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Commenting on the 2023 study, Dr Purves said: “We found widely held concerns about a growing drug culture amongst football fans. Cocaine appears to be particularly prevalent and when used in conjunction with alcohol, was described as a ‘perfect mix’ in terms of its combined heightening of intoxicated, hedonic or transgressive experiences on matchday.”

Dr Purves added that everything pointed towards a “growing drug culture in football”.

A university graduate in his 20s who more or less only sells Cocaine to mates as a side hustle told the Daily Star: “I reckon I’ll probably sell like double since there’s games on in the week.”

He added his profits highly depend on England’s success in the tournament which kicks off on June 14. Gareth Southgate’s men get their campaign underway on Sunday 16, followed by Thursday 20 and wrap up the group stage on Tuesday 25.

“As long as England stay in I should sell a bit more than usual. I do sell slightly more in the summer anyway but should sell more while Euros are on.”

International Journal of Drug Policy published the work of University of Oxford research associate Dr Martha Newson in 2021, reporting cocaine use among football fans to be a higher than the national average. More than 30% of respondents claimed to have seen supporters taking the Class A drug at matches over the previous last 12 months.

Offering perhaps an alternative perspective to that of football fans chasing an extra buzz, a source told the Daily Star why they and many others might be partial to whipping out a key in a boozer’s bogs.

The said: “It doesn’t sound thrilling but people usually just get it to sober themselves up, that’s why most people do it.”

After sampling over 1,000 British fans, Dr Newson concluded that football mirrors wider society whether it be in social issues or drug use.

She wrote: “The widespread availability of cheap but high purity cocaine may be associated with fan aggression, especially among fans who are highly bonded to their clubs and fellow fans.”

Dr Newson cited previous researchers when commenting: “Indeed, cocaine has become an element of ‘Lad’ culture and, alongside alcohol, fuels competitiveness and aggression from travel to a match, until well after it is finished.”

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