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LONDON - One in four professional footballers said they suffer symptoms of anxiety and depression in a new study into the sports largely unexplored "dark side" of mental illness. The mental health of recently retired professional footballers was even more worrisome, with one in three reporting signs of anxiety and depression. Some 300 current and former professionals — from the Netherlands, Major League Soccer, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand — took part in the study for the players union, FIFPro. While football can draw on reams of scientific study about players physical injuries, little research has previously been done into their mental health, and mental health problems have remained very much taboo in the sport, FIFPro chief medical officer Vincent Gouttebarge said. "There is definitely some dark side of professional football," he said in an interview. "We dont talk about mental health issues in football, or we didnt talk about this issue," he added. "Its quite a macho culture so people do not talk about it." Gouttebarge said the studys findings suggest that professional footballers are no less prone to mental illness than other younger people in the general population. He said that might surprise fans who believe footballers live comfortable, worry-free lives, with media attention often focusing on the wealth of the most successful players. "Contrary to what people think, professional footballers experience psychological problems just like other groups in the population," Gouttebarge said. Among the 180 active footballers who responded to the lengthy questionnaire, 10 per cent reported symptoms of distress, five per cent reported signs of burnout and three per cent said they suffered from low self-esteem. Nearly 20 per cent reported problems with alcohol, which Gouttebarge said could include binge drinking and regularly drinking too much, and seven per cent said they smoked. The 121 former professionals who responded on average had 12-year playing careers and have been retired for five years. Fifteen per cent showed signs of burnout and 18 per cent signs of distress. One in three reported drinking problems, 12 per cent smoked, and 39 per cent reported suffering from depression and anxiety. Gouttebarge said that could include worrying, mood swings, difficulties sleeping, feeling stressed, not being sociable or a combination of symptoms. "Mental illness seems to occur among former professional footballers more often than in current players, and more often than in other populations. Consequently, mental illness among former professional footballers cannot be underestimated and should be a subject of interest for all stakeholders in football," the study said. Retirement was "really a critical period," with players abruptly losing the structure of regular training and the support of being in a club, Gouttebarge said. "You have to find a new life," he said. "It can put you under a lot of stress." Long-term injuries and surgeries that take players out of the game and away from close, regular contact with teammates can also be factors in mental health problems. Being forced to stop playing professionally because of injury or because clubs wont offer another contract can be particularly hard to cope with, Gouttebarge noted. "This has been recognized in other sports as a huge cause of mental health issues," he said. "The guy who is willing to retire or to stop his career is really (in) a different kind of situation to the one who is forced to retire." He called the study "a good first step" toward identifying the scope of mental health issues in football. The survey is expanding to players in France and from French-speaking nations in Africa, with plans to also study players in Spanish-speaking countries and Japan, Gouttebarge said. Wholesale China Jerseys . The 23-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., defeated Germanys Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday in the fourth round of the Sony Open in just 89 minutes. Authentic Stitched NFL Jerseys . "Canada," Bolland said with a smile. "Is that a question?" One day earlier, though, fellow Toronto Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri wasnt so sure his home and native land could pull off the win against the United States in the semi-finals of the Olympic hockey tournament. http://www.stitchednfljerseys.com/?tag=cheap-case-keenum-jersey .com) - Rick Nash scored twice and Derek Stepan chipped in a goal with one assist as the New York Rangers claimed a 5-2 decision over Calgary at the Saddledome. Cheap Jerseys Authentic . -- D.A. Points was disqualified Friday from the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am for using a training device while waiting to play the 18th hole at Pebble Beach. Cheap Nick Foles Jersey . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday.Pakistan Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq tells Saj Sadiq of PakPassion.net he is not fazed by defeat to England in the second Test... The manner of Pakistans capitulation in the second Test, where they lost by 330 runs, appeared to nullify any positives gained by the fantastic victory at Lords.But despite the gloom that usually descends on Pakistan cricket in the face of a poor performance, newly-appointed Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq is convinced that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We may have struggled in Manchester, but it is my firm belief that our batsmen will have picked up important experience by the end of this tour which will benefit them in the future, said Inzamam. Watch a pick of the action from the fourth day of the second test between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford There is no need to panic due to the recent performance. It is usual for a team with many players who have never played in such conditions before, to struggle a little, similar to when non-Asian teams find it tough to play spin bowling in the sub-continent.Back home or in the UAE, we try and play every ball that we face, but in English conditions you need to be selective about which balls to play and which ones to leave.Our batsmen need to improve themselves technically. However, I do not believe that there is any blame to be laid at their feet for the defeat. We need to have patience.The England victory at Old Trafford may have been painful for Pakistan cricket followers but England batsman Joe Roots fantastic 254 against a world-class bowling attack was a sight to behold. Root innings one of the greats Nasser Hussain hailed Joe Roots double hundred as one of the greatest innings for England hes seen A veteran of almost five-hundred international games, Inzamam expressed his admiration for the 25-year-old England batsman who is laying waste to many an international bowling attack.Root has really impressed me, said Inzamam. Ive watched his career closely; he is a fantastic player and seems to be improving with every innings that he plays.I see a great future for him if he continues to bat in the way he is batting at the moment.The four-Test series now stands level at 1-1 after Pakistan kicked off their campaign with an impressive 75-run victory against England at Lords.There arent many cricket followers who will forget the unique press-up celebration by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq when he scored a fantastic hundred in the first Test. Misbah-ul-Haq celebrated his century against England at Lords in a very unusual way, by doing some press-ups! Apart from the well-deserved accolades he received for his innings, his performance in that game also underlined his importance to the Pakistan team and seemed to end any talk of age not being on his side on this tour.ddddddddddddInzamam said the only considerations for Misbahs inclusion in this team and for his future participation were his performances and fitness - the latter helped by the squads pre-tour army boot camp.Misbah has shown the way for all batsmen to follow, added Inzaman. He is the most experienced player in the team and our captain.We also have Younus Khan, who we can rely on for experience. Performances by both these players are key to our successes. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq praised the performances of Englands Alastair Cook and Joe Root after defeat in the second test Misbahs age is not an issue - there is absolutely no limit on the age of a player for him to be part of the Pakistan team. The only factor that matters is the level of performance and the fitness of the player.The way Misbah is playing now, I see no reason why he should not be given the opportunity to represent Pakistan in upcoming foreign tours, as his experience will be crucial for the team.Chastised by their loss at Old Trafford, Misbah and Pakistan will now need to re-group and look ahead to the remaining two Test matches to try to finish the series on a winning note.While the loss at Old Trafford is fresh in the minds of fans and players alike, Inzamam says the win in the opening Test at Lords cannot be ignored as it showed to the world that Pakistan are not a pushover. The win at Lords has shown everyone that this team is more than capable of winning against tough opposition and in foreign conditions, he said.The Old Trafford Test obviously did not go that well, but then we have to give credit to England for making a comeback in this series and shows that they are a very tough team to beat.Regardless of the result in the second Test, I am convinced that as the players get more experience in these conditions, their performance will improve and Pakistan will get better results and bounce back.Watch day one of the third Investec Test between England against Pakistan, from Edgbaston, at 10am, Wednesday Sky Sports 2. Also See: Pakistan fixtures/results England fixtures/results Live cricket on Sky Get Sky Sports ' ' '