How a former Liverpool player missed a game to play poker, and it cost him his career
Mixing football and high-stakes poker can have dire consequences. Albert Riera, a winger who used to play for Liverpool, is an excellent example of how an athlete’s love of poker can affect their career.
Because of his love for poker, he did something that caused controversy and cost him his job at Udinese. Not only that, it also affected his image as a football player.
Albert Riera was an outstanding Spanish winger who played for Liverpool, Galatasaray, and Udinese, among other top European teams. Initially on loan for Manchester City for the 2005-06 season, he first transferred for £8 million from Espanyol to Liverpool in 2008. It wasn’t his time at Anfield, marked by inconsistent performances and media scrutiny, but rather his short stint at Udinese that dominated the headlines.
Ditching a football game for a poker tournament
Hoping for a new start, Riera signed with Serie A side Udinese in the summer of 2013. However, Riera made an unexpected decision before his debut, ultimately leading to him being kicked out of the team. Riera went AWOL to participate in a poker event in Slovenia instead of showing up for Udinese’s 1-1 draw against Chievo in November.
The club did not like this unannounced disappearance, and Udinese terminated his contract shortly after. Riera then claimed on social media that it was a “mutual agreement” but later denied that poker was why he left. It begged major questions about the timing of his poker appearance.
Riera was passionate about poker. He had before uploaded pictures of himself playing cards with teammates between training sessions.
His competitive spirit went beyond the football field, and he was not a lousy poker player. He allegedly finished second in the Slovenian event, winning £3,000. It’s not clear if his poker addiction directly caused him to get worse at football, but Udinese’s last straw was missing a game to play in a poker tournament. Following the conclusion of his football career, Riera decided to attempt his hand at football management.
His tale is a good example of how personal hobbies may hinder career objectives. Even though many people love poker as a pastime, finding the perfect balance with your career is vital. Although Riera’s gamble failed, his passion for football eventually brought him back onto the field, and this time around, he watched from the stands.
Choosing the right poker platform
For poker lovers, picking the right site is essential to playing on a safe and secure platform. There are several online poker rooms to choose from, like GG Poker, 888 Poker, and Coin Poker, which are popular top poker sites, each with perks.
Poker players like GG Poker because of soft fields and high-stakes action. On the other hand, 888 Poker’s reliable platform and bonus deals make it appealing to amateur and professional players.
Coin Poker is an excellent choice for crypto poker fanatics because it facilitates quick payouts.
No matter what kind of poker you like, choosing the best site will keep you safe and help you avoid the mistakes that cost Riera his career.