Leicester honors late owner with emotional tribute before first match since tragic crash
Leicester City – as a team, as a football club, as a family, and as so much more – honored late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha on Saturday with a stirring, emotional ceremony before their first match since his tragic death.
Srivaddhanaprabha, a 60-year-old Thai businessman, was one of five people killed in a helicopter crash hours after last Saturday’s match.
Seven days later, Leicester players – starters, substitutes, reserves – coaches, staff and others stood united, arms around one another, around the center circle at Cardiff City, minutes before kickoff.
They bowed their heads. Some faces were stoic. Others struggled to resist tears welling up inside. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was particularly emotional. All observed a minute of silence.
Earlier, players had worn shirts to honor “Khun Vichai.” The front of the white shirts featured a picture of Srivaddhanaprabha and the caption, “THE BOSS.” On the backs: “YOU WILL FOREVER BE IN OUR HEARTS.”
In the stands, thousands of traveling fans wore identical shirts. They held up scarves with pride. They hung a Thai flag with the club’s crest, and the message: “KHUN VICHAI; THEN, NOW & FOREVER, YOUR AMBITION ACHIEVED OUR DREAMS.” They raised a similar, grander one, with the big, block letters: “R.I.P. VICHAI.”
Players from both teams – and from other clubs around the Premier League – wore black armbands.
Leicester, whose midweek League Cup contest against Southampton had been postponed, was given the option to postpone Saturday’s game as well.
Instead, club and players chose to play in their late owner’s honor. After the game, they’ll travel as a group to Thailand for the funeral, which began Saturday at a Bangkok temple.
Demarai Gray honors Khun Vichai with goal, celebration
The best tribute, though, came in the 55th minute. Leicester winger Demarai Gray put Leicester up 1-0 with an impressive left-footed finish. He immediately ripped his jersey off to reveal an undershirt with three words printed on the chest: “For Khun Vichai.”
He and all his teammates then ran to celebrate in front of the Leicester fans.
Referee Lee Probert, by rule, gave Gray a yellow card. But he clearly didn’t want to. And nobody – not even Cardiff players or fans – would have had any qualms if Probert had ignored the rule. Not after what Leicester has been through over the past week.
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Henry Bushnell is a features writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell, and on Facebook.
