Leicester’s fixture against Cardiff to go ahead after owner’s death

Both the Premier League and Cardiff were prepared to cancel the match in light of Saturday's tragedy, which claimed the life of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha​ and four others

Leicester City‘s Premier League match against Cardiff City will be played this Saturday after the death of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the club has announced.

It’s understood players have chosen to go ahead with the fixture following the tragic helicopter crash with claimed five lives, including that of the 60-year-old Thai billionaire. Both teams will wear black armbands in honour of the late businessman.

Both the Premier League and Cardiff were prepared to cancel the match in light of the tragedy, which has seen an outpouring of emotion from players, fans and high-profile sports figures.

Leicester’s Carabao Cup tie against Southampton, due to be held tonight, was postponed on Sunday, with it set to be rearranged in due course.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Leicester said: “Leicester City’s Premier League fixture at Cardiff City this Saturday (3 November) will go ahead as scheduled, as the Club continues its tributes to its late Chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

“A minute’s silence will be observed before kick-off at the Cardiff City Stadium and players will wear black armbands in Khun Vichai’s honour.

“An announcement on the rearrangement of the Club’s EFL Cup Fourth Round tie against Southampton, postponed earlier this week, will be made in due course.”

Earlier in the day, Leicester opened a book of condolence in memory of Srivaddhanaprabha, who bough the club in 2010 and oversaw the side’s historic title-winning season.

There has been a steady stream of supporters arriving since the early hours of Tuesday morning, as supporters continue to lay their tributes, including flowers, scarves and shirts to the ever-growing shrine which now extends down one side of the stadium.

Leicester’s City Hall and County Hall will also light up in blue this week to honour Srivaddhanaprabha, as well as Nusara Suknamai, Kaveporn Punpare, Izabela Roza Lechowicz and pilot Eric Swaffer who also died in the crash.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) continue to conduct its investigations as it tries to establish what caused Saturday’s tragedy.

On Monday, son and vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha was joined by his mother and Vichai’s wife Aimon at the ground as they laid a wreath during an emotional morning.

A portrait of Leicester City’s Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in a helicopter crash at the club’s stadium (AFP/Getty)

Club officials, including director of football Jon Rudkin and chief executive Susan Whelan, also attended as they viewed the floral tributes.

The president of the Thai FA Somyot Poompanmoung and his wife, Potjaman Poompamoung, were among the group.

The first-team squad, along with manager Claude Puel, then spent 10 minutes looking at the tributes on Monday afternoon.

Injured midfielder Daniel Amartey – who suffered a suspected broken ankle in the draw with West Ham which preceded the crash – missed the squad visit but attended alone on Tuesday to pay his respects.