Leicester City sex video: Premier League club 'deeply concerned' over racially abusive tape as three players express their 'sincere apologies'

Leicester have launched a full investigation after a sex tape showing three of their players racially abusing a Thai girl during a sex session was leaked

Tom Hopper (top right), Leicester manager Nigel Pearson (bottom right) and James Pearson (bottom left) (GETTY IMAGES)

Leicester City have issued a statement to confirm they have launched an investigation into a video that was released by a Sunday newspaper that appears to show three of the club's players engaging in a sex session which includes racially abusing a Thai woman.

James Pearson, 22 – son of manager Nigel Pearson – striker Tom Hopper, 21, and goalkeeper Adam Smith, 22, can be seen in the video naked, with the footage obtained and released by the Sunday Mirror, in which one of them calls a Thai woman a “slit eye”. It’s alleged that the players shared the video with friends back home in the United Kingdom, before the newspaper published it on Sunday.

In the statement, Leicester have confirmed that the club were “deeply concerned” and the players “would like to convey their sincere apologies for their behaviour”, having been flown home from the club’s end of season tour ahead of the rest of the squad.

A club spokesman said: “The Board of Leicester City Football Club is deeply concerned about an incident involving three of our young professionals during a recent trip to Thailand. Our players at every level are expected to behave as representatives and ambassadors for our Football Club, both on official Club duty and in their personal lives, so we treat their conduct extremely seriously.

“Following a preliminary meeting in consultation with the three players earlier today, the players involved in the incident are now returning to the UK, in advance of the rest of the squad.

"Tom Hopper, James Pearson and Adam Smith 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.”

With calls for the players to be sacked, the club added that they will carry out a full investigation before making any further comment.

“A formal process of investigation will be undertaken with the players in conjunction with their representatives and, as such, no further comment can be made at this stage,” the statement added.

“Leicester City remains wholly committed to promoting equality in football and in wider society and to our players recognising their responsibilities as role models to young people.”

Nigel Pearson's son James is a defender Leicester (GETTY IMAGES)

Piara Powar, executive director of the Football Against Racism in Europe, accused the three Premier League players of being "privileged young men" who were "exerting their power" over the three women and "demeaning them sexually and racially abusing them".

"There is no point in pretending that videos like this aren't made and shared all the time, but the arrogance of doing it while on a goodwill trip to the country of your owners, the people paying your salaries, is mind blowing,” Powar said.

"The fact that they are Premier League footballers, and one of them is the manager's son, means that there is a responsibility to behave, like it or not.

"I hear Nigel Pearson takes a strong stance against discrimination. It's a shame he hasn't passed the message on to his players and even more of a shame his son doesn't get it."