LONDON - One in four professional footballers said they suffer symptoms of anxiety and depression in a new study into the sports largely unexplored "dark side" of mental illness. The mental health of recently retired professional footballers was even more worrisome, with one in three reporting signs of anxiety and depression. Some 300 current and former professionals — from the Netherlands, Major League Soccer, Scotland, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand — took part in the study for the players union, FIFPro. While football can draw on reams of scientific study about players physical injuries, little research has previously been done into their mental health, and mental health problems have remained very much taboo in the sport, FIFPro chief medical officer Vincent Gouttebarge said. "There is definitely some dark side of professional football," he said in an interview. "We dont talk about mental health issues in football, or we didnt talk about this issue," he added. "Its quite a macho culture so people do not talk about it." Gouttebarge said the studys findings suggest that professional footballers are no less prone to mental illness than other younger people in the general population. He said that might surprise fans who believe footballers live comfortable, worry-free lives, with media attention often focusing on the wealth of the most successful players. "Contrary to what people think, professional footballers experience psychological problems just like other groups in the population," Gouttebarge said. Among the 180 active footballers who responded to the lengthy questionnaire, 10 per cent reported symptoms of distress, five per cent reported signs of burnout and three per cent said they suffered from low self-esteem. Nearly 20 per cent reported problems with alcohol, which Gouttebarge said could include binge drinking and regularly drinking too much, and seven per cent said they smoked. The 121 former professionals who responded on average had 12-year playing careers and have been retired for five years. Fifteen per cent showed signs of burnout and 18 per cent signs of distress. One in three reported drinking problems, 12 per cent smoked, and 39 per cent reported suffering from depression and anxiety. Gouttebarge said that could include worrying, mood swings, difficulties sleeping, feeling stressed, not being sociable or a combination of symptoms. "Mental illness seems to occur among former professional footballers more often than in current players, and more often than in other populations. Consequently, mental illness among former professional footballers cannot be underestimated and should be a subject of interest for all stakeholders in football," the study said. Retirement was "really a critical period," with players abruptly losing the structure of regular training and the support of being in a club, Gouttebarge said. "You have to find a new life," he said. "It can put you under a lot of stress." Long-term injuries and surgeries that take players out of the game and away from close, regular contact with teammates can also be factors in mental health problems. Being forced to stop playing professionally because of injury or because clubs wont offer another contract can be particularly hard to cope with, Gouttebarge noted. "This has been recognized in other sports as a huge cause of mental health issues," he said. "The guy who is willing to retire or to stop his career is really (in) a different kind of situation to the one who is forced to retire." He called the study "a good first step" toward identifying the scope of mental health issues in football. The survey is expanding to players in France and from French-speaking nations in Africa, with plans to also study players in Spanish-speaking countries and Japan, Gouttebarge said. Houston Rockets Jerseys . Samir Nasris 88th-minute equalizer at Etihad Stadium will be of little consolation to City, which is now six points behind league leader Liverpool and four points behind second-place Chelsea. Third-place City has a game in hand but the surprise result against Sunderland, coupled with Sundays 3-2 loss at Liverpool, may be a setback too far in its bid for a second championship in three seasons. PJ Tucker Jersey . "I met her, I think, a week ago. We went to a Norwood hockey store and picked her out some gear. http://www.therocketsofficial.com/Authen...Rockets-Jersey/. -- Ryan Gropp scored in overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds shut out the Spokane Chiefs 1-0 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday. Steve Francis Jersey . The 19-year-old Swiss centre back will initially have to impress in Uniteds reserve side to earn a spot in the first team. Veseli says "Manchester United has a long history of younger players coming through and hopefully I can follow and do the same. Clint Capela Jersey .A caravan greeted the former Boston Red Sox pitcher at the airport and took him to a public park in Santo Domingo, where a crowd lined a 19-mile stretch of highway to catch a glimpse of him.Once at the park, Martinez went on stage accompanied by players David Ortiz and Robinson Cano as merengue music played and fireworks lit up the sky.Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has been placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to February 26, the club announced Monday. Price joins wingers Brandon Prust and Michael Bournival on the injured list, meaning the team has one roster spot open and creates room for a potential addition. "Carey is still day-to-day," head coach Michel Therrien confirmed following Mondays practice from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. "As soon as the medical staff feels hes ready to start practicing, hes going to go on the ice, but obviously he was not today." Price traveled with the team for its four-game Western road trip that begins Monday against the Kings, wherre Peter Budaj will get his fourth-straight start.dddddddddddd Budaj has already helped the team pick up five points out of a possible six since taking over starting duties with Price. Dustin Tokarski from the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League will back up Budaj. Price can be returned to Montreals roster as early as Tuesday and he could play against the Ducks in Anaheim on Wednesday if hes ready to return. Price was hurt last week after facing just one shot at practice. He left the ice in discomfort and appeared to be favouring his leg. Price has a 26-17-5 record this season for the Canadiens, with a 2.33 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. Cheap Twins JerseysWholesale Royals JerseysCheap Tigers JerseysAuthentic Indians JerseysCheap White Sox JerseysDiscount Blue Jays JerseysWholesale Rays JerseysCheap Yankees JerseysDiscount Red Sox JerseysDiscount Orioles JerseysDiscount Astros JerseysCheap Angels JerseysCheap Athletics JerseysCheap Mariners JerseysRangers Jerseys From ChinaBraves Jerseys OutletCheap Marlins JerseysWholesale Mets JerseysWholesale Phillies JerseysCheap Nationals JerseysCubs Jerseys From ChinaReds Jerseys From ChinaCheap Brewers JerseysWholesale Pirates JerseysCheap Cardinals JerseysCheap Diamondbacks JerseysAuthentic Rockies JerseysDodgers Jerseys From ChinaWholesale Padres JerseysGiants Jerseys From China ' ' '