EPL players in Bangkok sex scandal
Footballers, including manager's son, film sex acts, make racist remarks about Asians
Three budding players of Leicester City Football Club have apologised for their behaviour, after a video showing them in an orgy with Thai women in Bangkok was publicised.
In the video, the footballers are heard in the clip making racist remarks towards their sex partners.
The incident is likely to enrage Leicester's Thai billionaire owners.
The trio involved are striker Tom Hopper, 21, goalkeeper Adam Smith and defender James Pearson, both 22, who is the son of club manager Nigel, reported Britain's Daily Mirror.
They were in Thailand for the Premier League club's end-of-season tour to promote goodwill, though this has arguably been severely undermined by the trio's antics.
After all, the owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, who are father and son, have ploughed millions into establishing Leicester as a Premier League side since taking over the club in 2010.
A statement from the club said the trio "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."
The club also said the players are "returning to the UK, in advance of the rest of the squad".
Video
The video, which the trio shared with friends back home, starts with the three players naked and cheering the women, who are performing sex acts.
Hopper does a running commentary and is heard saying: "Go on that love."
One of the players is then heard off-camera saying: "Come on... you slit-eye."
In another scene, Hopper says one of the Thai woman is "minging" (British slang for unpleasant or foul-smelling), adding that she is "an absolute one out of 10".
Hopper and Pearson are next seen exchanging high-fives as if they are celebrating the scoring of a goal.
The sex clip will be a huge embarrassment for the club manager, who is an outspoken ambassador for the Kick It Out scheme, the campaign to end racism in football.
Leicester's Thai owners was able to form a partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, one of the club's sponsors, and the authority's "Amazing Thailand" branding has appeared on the back of team shirts for the last two years, reported Daily Mail.
THAI AUTHORITIES
The Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mr Thawatchai Arunyik, has previously said: "We are very proud to be working with Leicester City and its supporters who have embraced the club's increasingly strong association with Thailand."
Yesterday morning, as news of the incidents broke, the trio deleted their Twitter accounts, while Leicester City officials, who were said to be aware of the scandal, were unavailable for comment.
Pearson signed for Leicester in July 2013 before being loaned to Peterborough.
Hopper joined Leicester City in October 2011 from Boston United. He was loaned to Bury for part of the recently concluded season.
Smith joined the club in August 2011 from Middlesbrough and was loaned to Mansfield Town for part of the season.
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