Leigh Griffiths issued a statement on Sunday morning denying that his absence from the Celtic team is due to addiction problems.
Brendan Rodgers announced last month that Griffiths would be taking a break from football due to ongoing personal issues.
The Scottish Sun had reported that among the Celtic striker's problems is gambling addiction. On Saturday night, they published a story about Griffiths attending the Newcastle races.
The 28-year-old subsequently released a statement via Twitter denying the reports.
"Despite what has been written about me, rumoured or said to you from afar, I just want to settle one thing and to make it clear once and for all," wrote Griffiths.
I am off work due to my mental health state. NOT GAMBLING, DRUGS, or any other issue that has been written about me since December.
The stories, the tweets, the lies that come out people's mouth is laughable, but I suppose if they're talking about me, they are leaving someone else alone.
If anyone would like to come forward with real evidence that suggests I'm off with the above mentioned either from my employers, or anyone else, let's see it.
I'm putting this out there now because family and friends are being asked questions and they've been told to say nothing.
But I'll not be silenced, especially by newspapers and idiots who can write tweets and make up stories and it grows arms and legs due to people's sad and pathetic lives.
Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
