European footballer's caught plague (5)

I believe the answer is:

beset

'plague' is the definition.
(I know that plague can be written as beset)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for beset that I've seen before include "Encircled, attacked" , "Hem in, surround" , "Beleaguer" , "Assail or attack on all sides" , "Hemmed in or surrounded" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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