Cardiff City manager Sabri Lamouchi lamented the "absolutely stupid" behaviour of Connor Wickham after the striker uploaded a video of himself appearing to inhale laughing gas just hours after losing to bitter rivals Swansea City.
A video appearing to show Wickham inhaling nitrous oxide while on a night out was posted on the player's Instagram story just hours after the game and enraged many Bluebirds supporters, many of whom were still reeling from their team's last-gasp 3-2 defeat by the Swans at Cardiff City Stadium.
The club began an investigation into the incident, with Lamouchi stating on Thursday morning that a decision on whether to sanction Wickham, 30, or not is still to be decided by the higher-ups.
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"First of all, it was absolutely stupid. Even if it is his birthday after the derby, to put this on Instagram… I spoke with him. He was absolutely devastated and sorry," Lamouchi said.
"He asked to apologise to the players, the fans, the club. I said to him we have a lot of problems to manage, so I don’t need more problems to create more tension, because we have only one goal - for me - to save the club and to play in the Championship next season. Because the club deserves it.
"We are where we are for many reasons, many mistakes, this was a big mistake. The club will make a sanction - or not - it’s for the club to decide. It was the wrong timing. It was absolutely stupid and he knows that.
"I can’t say it’s nothing. It was wrong, absolutely bad and in a bad moment."
Possession of laughing gas, or Nitrous Oxide, is set to be made a criminal offence by the UK government due to "health and social harms". It is already illegal to produce or supply the gas for its psychoactive effects, amid concerns that heavy use could damage nerves in the user's spinal column.
Crucially, though, it is not yet illegal to possess it. If it did cross the border into criminality, then Lamouchi was under no illusion that the club would take a hard line approach.
"You need to find the balance between legal and illegal. It’s stupid," he added.
"(If it was) illegal and the club would take a radical decision. You don’t have any chance and you have to pay the consequence - but this is not the case.
"He apologised to the club, fans and in the locker room to me and the staff. It was a terrible weekend. But probably more with the scenario with Swansea rather than these stupid things."
Lamouchi did confirm that Wickham would be available for this weekend's crucial relegation six-pointer against Blackpool, but reminded the player of his responsibilities, particularly as a senior player.
"He is not so young, he is a mature player," the manager added.
"Our business is a different world. Unfortunately the mentality changes, social media is not what it was like 20 years ago.
"It is a dangerous image for themselves and for the club. But to make a career without any mistakes is also difficult."
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