Raheem Sterling is at the centre of a second drugs controversy after the Liverpool forward was videoed passing out after inhaling nitrous oxide.

The England international, who was also exposed on Sunday after he was caught puffing on a shisha pipe, will face at club investigation over why he was taking the legal high, which is also known as ‘hippy crack’.

In the footage Sterling is seen sucking on an orange balloon then laughing and giggling before he asks one of his friends to give him another hit.

Raheem Sterling has been filmed apparently inhaling nitrous oxide - also known as 'hippy crack'

The video shows him smiling and breathing in gas from a balloon before apparently passing out

When the camera pans back to the 20-year-old, he is either unconscious or has fallen asleep. It is claimed that the video, obtained by The Sun, was taken at his home in Southport in the days before a game.

Nitrous oxide starves the brain of oxygen and makes users feel light-headed and dizzy.

Sterling scored in last night’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle United but he also missed a chance from six yards in the 56th minute and could now face disciplinary action after his second indiscretion in the space of 24 hours.

Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling can be seen pictured on social media whilst smoking a shisha pipe

Sterling scored the opening goal in Monday night’s 2-0 victory over Newcastle

NITROUS OXIDE OR 'HIPPY CRACK' Nitrous Oxide, has been nicknamed ‘laughing gas’ due to the euphoric and relaxed feeling people who inhale it can sometimes feel. The gas is normally bought in pressured canisters, commonly transferred to a container, e.g. a balloon, from which the gas is inhaled. Nitrous oxide is not illegal to possess, but this doesn’t mean that it is safe to use. The effects of nitrous oxide vary depending on how much has been inhaled but they include: • Feelings of euphoria, relaxation and calmness. • Dizziness, difficulty in thinking straight and fits of giggles/laughter. • Sound distortions or even hallucinations. • In some people, a headache can be an unwanted immediate effect. Risks include: • Unconsciousness or death from lack of oxygen. This occurs when the available oxygen for breathing is effectively pushed out by the nitrous oxide. Advertisement

A Liverpool spokesman said: ‘We are aware of the story and intend to speak to the player. Any subsequent action will be taken internally.’

Sportsmail contacted Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward, last night. He refused to comment on the story but did not deny that it was his client. A small pocket of Liverpool fans on The Kop vented their frustrations at last night’s game, chanting ‘Raheem Sterling, your agent’s a k***’ during the first half. They were widely applauded.

Asked if he will be reminding Sterling of his responsibilities, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: ‘I will do. He’s a young kid who has been in the spotlight now so he knows the demands of being a top class professional — it’s not just on the field it’s off the field, but I will speak with him on it and we’ll move on.’

Sportsmail columnist and former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher said: ‘In years to come he’ll look back over this period now as a massive learning curve. When you’re a 20-year-old kid, you make mistakes. I did, I’m sure we all do. It’s just important that he learns from it because Raheem Sterling needs to be on the back pages, not the front pages and that’s a problem for him in these last few months.’

Players' union chief Bobby Barnes called for understanding after Sterling 'made a mistake'.

Barnes, deputy chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association and European president of the international players' union FIFPro, said people should not be too hard on Sterling.

He said: 'Nobody would condone the use of these types of substances whether legal or otherwise as footballers are seen as role models. It does send a message to young people that if it's good enough for footballers then it's good enough for them and that is not desirable.

The 20-year-old recently snubbed a £100,000-a-week contract offer from the Merseyside club

'But you have to bear in mind that we ask an awful lot of young players growing up in the public eye. Many of us look back at things we have done in our teens and early 20s and wish we hadn't done them.

'He's made a mistake and people are human. I am sure this will be a minor blip on his path to a fantastic career.

'Players have to be aware that there is camera on every corner - they are very much in the spotlight.

'He's a young man, growing up in public eye and he's made a mistake. Let's not be too hard on the boy. He is under a lot of pressure and people think because he has a lot of talent he's also supposed to have diplomacy and wisdom.

'In the main he's doing a very good job, he's at a good club and has a good manager and I'm sure Brendan will put his arm around him and at the same time make him aware of his responsibilities.'

Nitrous oxide has been nicknamed ‘laughing gas’ due to the euphoric and relaxed feeling people who inhale it can sometimes feel. Official figures show 460,000 16-24 years olds took it last year.

Brendan Rodgers has backed his wayward star but contract stand-off has created tension at Liverpool

It has been the cause of 17 deaths since 2006.

It costs around £2 to buy and is not illegal to possess — Sterling is not the first footballer to be caught indulging.

Drugs charity Re-Solv has called on the 'role model' player to condemn the use of the drug to deter young supporters from taking risks with their health.

The anti-drugs organisation's spokesman, Stephen Ream, told MailOnline: 'It's very disappointing from our point of view. He is a big role model and we hate to see this kind of stuff from someone of his status.

'Players in similar situations in the past have come out and apologised and we hope he does the same.

'Nitrous Oxide is not the most dangerous drug out there but there are deaths attached to it. There are risks and we would urge anyone tempted to take it not to do so.'

Tottenham defender Kyle Walker was pictured inhaling a balloon in 2013, while last year Saido Berahino was pictured doing it at the wheel of his Range Rover.

In February, Jack Wilshere faced criticism after he was pictured with a shisha pipe on a night out while recovering from ankle surgery.

But the Arsenal star, who has previously been pictured smoking cigarettes, was defended by England manager Roy Hodgson who said he'd tried the Middle Eastern pipe himself and did not think it was a problem.

The past two months have proved to be a tempestuous period in Sterling’s fledgling career and the revelations of the past two days have ensured extra scrutiny.

The England international (right) played in the Reds FA Cup quarter final win over Blackburn on Wednesday

Sterling (second right) attended the launch of the 2015-16 Liverpool kit at Anfield on Friday afternoon

There was a large turnout for the launch of the new kit, which will be worn throughout the 2015-16 season

England and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere (right) was involved in a smoking controversy in February

Sterling’s contract stand-off with Liverpool has created tension and he was heckled at the launch of the club’s new kit last week. He has turned down a deal worth around £100,000 per week and does not want to resume negotiations until the end of the season.

Sterling infuriated Liverpool at the start of the month when he gave an interview to the BBC —without permission — to talk about his contract stand-off and why he did not want to be perceived as a ‘greedy 20-year-old’.



