Southampton Manager Hasenhuttl blocks wi-fi to prevent players from getting addicted to video games

Southampton FC Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl - Getty

Ralph Hasenhuttl, Southampton FC Manager, has blocked the wi-fi at team hotels to prevent his squad from playing "addictive" video games.


Hasenhuttl, who faced similar problems at former club RB Leipzig, compared it to alcohol and drug addiction.

According to the 51-year old Manager: "It's something you get addicted to and that means we have to protect the players."

An anonymous English footballer, on Thursday, admitted lengthy gaming sessions threatened to ruin his career.

The unknown EFL player would play popular video game Fortnite for up to 13 hours a day, as revealed by The Sun.

"It's something you have to force actively against and I will do this," said Hasenhuttl.

Southampton will travel to Brighton for a Premier League encounter on Saturday.

"You have to help protect them because it's not a small problem. If you are honest it's the same as alcoholism or getting addicted to drugs.

"To protect them means helping them not to spend so much time there. We block the wi-fi in the hotel, for example, in the evening so they can't play any more."

"I will be active always in this direction because I have to protect them. Also outside the pitch - and that means for 24 hours I have to look at them."