Premier League team in racism row

Three shamed Premier League footballers who allegedly filmed themselves in an orgy in which a Thai woman was racially abused have apologised amid calls for them to be sacked.

Leicester City football club said it is “deeply concerned” and has launched an investigation after the emergence of a video apparently showing three of its squad in the offensive video, in which a woman is called a “slit eye”.

Defender James Pearson, 22 — son of the club’s manager Nigel — striker Tom Hopper, 21, and goalkeeper Adam Smith, 22, all appear naked in the video, obtained by the Sunday Mirror.

In a statement the club said the players “would like to convey their sincere apologies for their behaviour — to the women involved in the incident, to the club and its owners, to the club’s fans and to their families”.

Fans and members of the Thai community have called for the players, who are flying back to the UK where they will be investigated by the Midlands club, to be sacked.

video was reportedly filmed while players were touring Thailand celebrating staying up in football’s top flight.

A Leicester City spokesman said: “We take the conduct of our players at every level extremely seriously and will take appropriate action, if necessary, once the full facts of the situation have been established.

“Pending the outcome of an internal investigation, the club will make no further comment.”

In the video one of the players also appears to call one of the women “minging — an absolute one out of 10” as his friends laugh.

Other offensive comments are made to the women as the players appear to laugh and egg each other on.

It is alleged the trio shared the explicit video with friends back in the UK.

Supporters told of their disgust on the fans forum FoxesTalk.

One posted: “Get rid of them, never getting near our squad anyway.” Another wrote: “Disgusting and inexcusable behaviour, exactly the sort of stuff that gives British tourists a bad name when we go abroad.

“It’s especially disappointing given the efforts the owners are going to to ensure we’re a popular club in Thailand.”

All three players alleged to have been involved have taken down their Twitter profiles. The club declined to comment on whether this was linked to the scandal.

Club manager Nigel Pearson has campaigned against racism and is a patron of the charity Show Racism the Red Card.

The scandal is likely to anger Leicester City’s Thai billionaire owners, father and son Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, who have pumped millions into the club and worked hard to establish it a large fanbase in Thailand.

Leicester City has been in “strategic, international partnership” with the tourism authority of Thailand for three years. Its Amazing Thailand branding is on the back of team shirts.

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