Leicester City return to Thailand on end-of-season trip despite last year's controversial visit
Three of the club’s youth team players were sacked after allegedly racially abusing women while filming a sex act during last year's trip
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Your support makes all the difference.Leicester City have arrived in Bangkok as part of another trip to Thailand, despite the Premier League champions’ last visit ending in disgrace.
The trip, arranged by the club’s Thai owners, began with a heroes’ reception for Claudio Ranieri’s side after they touched down at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where raucous supporters chanted “Leicester City” and “champions”.
Leicester’s support base in the country has grown all season long, as their incredible journey from 5,000-1 title outsiders to comfortable league champions unfolded.
Last year, however, three of the club’s youth team players were sacked after allegedly racially abusing women while filming a sex act.
Tom Hopper, Adam Smith and James Pearson – the son of the club’s then-manager Nigel – were dismissed following an internal inquiry, with Pearson Snr's contract terminated shortly after.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Leicester’s vice-chairman and the son of owner Vichai, warned the players that there must be no repeat of such behaviour on this trip.
“The players need privacy as well but I’ve talked to them and they know they need to treat everything well,” he said earlier this month.
“You are popular, that is great, and people come to see you because they admire you and they want to talk to you. They will talk to you like you’re their son. So be proud and enjoy.”
It is believed that the players movements will be kept track of throughout the trip, which involves two days of press and public appearances, following by a private sojourn to one of the country’s islands.
The controversy seemed to be at the back of the minds of those Thai supporters who turned out to welcome the Foxes, however, with those in attendance implored to “Celebrate the Fearless Champions”.
Jamie Vardy, the club's leading scorer this term and another player who found himself at the centre of racism controversy last summer, was one of several players not in attendance due to international commitments.
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