A study by a professor of psychology has revealed that professional footballers are at risk of developing gambling problems when injured, dropped, or sent out on loan.

Dietmar “Didi” Hamann played 191 times for Liverpool winning the FA Cup and League Cup twice, the UEFA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. He also lost £288,000 spread betting during a cricket match between Australia and South Africa where he wagered £2,800 for every run the Aussies would accumulate above 340. Unfortunately, for the German, he would also lose £2,800 for every run below 340. They collapsed for 237.

“Every wicket felt like a stab in the heart,” Hamann wrote in his autobiography The Didi Man.

Hamann isn’t the only former professional footballer to suffer from gambling addiction. The former Welsh centre forward, John Hartson, visits gamblers anonymous twice weekly, and has said he will continue to attend until he is 70. The former Man Utd winger Keith Gillespie blew through £7m during a £100k per day habit. The former Arsenal and England star Paul Merson wrote in his autobiography how he sometimes felt like breaking his fingers to prevent him from phoning the bookies.