Footballers 'take out payday loans to fund gambling habits'

Charity Sporting Chance have revealed that footballers have resorted to taking out payday loans to fund their gambling habits.

Chief executive of the charity Colin Bland has claimed that they have come into contact with professionals with gambling problems, one of whom lost around £7m from gambling over three years.

"It's not uncommon for us to have a footballer who has turned up that's in a circle of payday loans and gambling," Bland told BBC Radio 5 live.

Sporting Chance was introduced to help men and women within sport deal with addiction.