Unacceptable behaviour, bad example, damages your health and "when you do it in public you damage your reputation as well". These were the words of Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger after learning that Jack Wilshere had been photographed smoking on a night out.

In days gone by Sir Stanley Matthews was seen advertising a brand of cigarettes wearing his England shirt. Sócrates (the footballer not the philosopher!) smoked two packets of cigarettes during his playing days. The great Johan Cruyff smoked 20 a day when manager of Barcelona. Stress and double bypass surgery saw an end to his smoking days. 

More recently Ashley Cole, Mario Balotelli and Wayne Rooney have all been caught smoking.  In the modern era and the money that footballers earn shouldn't they all be pasta eating, non drinking, non smoking role models?  There are, no doubt plenty more that choose to smoke in private away from the camera lenses. Afraid of the criticism and disappointing fans with their secret vice. 

After all smoking doesn't make anyone a better player. Does it?