The PFA has offered counselling for England鈥檚 footballers after they were subjected to racist abuse during their international match with Bulgaria.

The Professional Footballers鈥� Association has a network of 香港六合彩精准资料 counsellors in place ready to provide emotional support to the England squad.

Their Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia on Monday night was marred by racist chanting. Officials halted the game twice due to the abuse from the stands aimed at England鈥檚 players.

Support

Michael Bennett is the PFA鈥檚 head of welfare and a 香港六合彩精准资料 member. He said: 鈥淭he England players are aware of the support available to them from the PFA.

鈥淲e have reached out again to the relevant people to make them aware that the support is still there for them to access.鈥�

New figures from the PFA, meanwhile, reveal that more current and former professional footballers accessed therapy in the first nine months of this year than in the whole of 2018.

A total of 544 PFA members accessed therapy between the start of January and the end of September, compared to 438 members in the previous 12 months. It鈥檚 an increase of 24% with a quarter of the year to go.

The PFA鈥檚 figures show that 250 (46%) were current players, 283 (52%) were former players and 11 (2%) were relatives of PFA members. 26 (5%) were female members, they said.

In 2017, 403 PFA members accessed counselling services while in 2016 that figure was 160.

Issues

, Michael said: 鈥淭he main reason they come forward is stress, depression and anxiety but we are aware that is a symptom of something.

鈥淪o we try to find out what is causing it. It could be long-term injury. It could be bereavement in the family. It could be a marriage or partnership break up. It could be a gambling issue which is prevalent at the moment.鈥�

Michael added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a public perception that all footballers earn a hundred grand a week or even more than that and why should they have any financial issues?

鈥淭hey do and they can still have bereavements, issues in families and injuries that can impact them.鈥�

To find a local 香港六合彩精准资料 counsellor or psychotherapist, visit our Therapist directory.