Leicester City head to Thailand for club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's funeral
After victory over Cardiff, members of the team are flying to Thailand for the funeral of the popular billionaire.
Sunday 4 November 2018 11:22, UK
Leicester City players are on their way to Thailand where they will say a farewell to the club's owner, who was killed in a helicopter crash.
The footballers departed the UK soon after they beat Cardiff 1-0, their only goal dedicated to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who many thought of as a father figure.
They are expected to land in Bangkok mid-morning Sunday, UK time.
Finding the target in the 55th minute of the game at Cardiff, Demarai Gray revealed a message on his T-shirt saying it was for Mr Srivaddhanaprabha.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel ran the length of the pitch to join the celebrations.
The mood was slightly soured when Gray was booked by the referee for taking his shirt off.
Once the 1-0 win was complete, players and fans expressed their gratitude to the popular Thai billionaire, who oversaw the remarkable 2015-16 Premier League title campaign.
Ahead of kick-off there were tears during an emotional minute's silence, with supporters raising their club scarves aloft in tribute to Mr Srivaddhanaprabha.
A wreath was also laid on the pitch and two giant flags in his memory were unfurled, one of which was "surfed" from Cardiff supporters to the Leicester visitors, as the game got under way.
Before the match the Leicester squad wore T-shirts emblazoned with an image of the man they affectionately called "the boss". Many were also worn by fans during the game.
The 60-year-old was one of five people killed when the aircraft crashed leaving the King Power Stadium after the club's 1-1 draw with West Ham last Saturday.
Others who died when the helicopter came down in a staff car park were two of his staff members, Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, and pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
Mr Srivaddhanaprabha's funeral is taking place at a Buddhist temple in Bangkok, with members of Thailand's elite expected to pay tribute to the well-connected billionaire.
His body was flown to Thailand on Friday and taken to Wat Debsirindrawas ahead of the official ceremony which lasts until 9 November.
A Leicester City fan who was due to attend the match in Cardiff on Saturday told Sky News: "What this guy brought to the club was incredible.
"The Leicester fans... know when things are going right for their club… that's what this guy brought. He gave us belief. He is somebody who is going to be somewhat irreplaceable."
Ahead of the game, England and Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy told Sky Sports: "We all spoke about... wanting to play, it's what Vichai would've wanted and that's what we are going to do."
Mr Srivaddhanaprabha rose from having a single store in Bangkok to owning the duty-free King Power empire, whose shops are widespread at Thailand's airports.
His funeral ceremony began on Saturday with a Buddhist bathing rite using water given by the Thai king.
The honour is traditionally granted at funerals of high-ranking state officials or citizens who had devoted their lives to the good of the country.
The body will be kept for a further 100 days.
Outside the temple, Kiatisuk "Zico" Senamuang, a former Thai international player and coach, said the game had lost an important patron.
"I'm very proud of him... Not only the Thai people but also soccer fans around the world mourn his loss," he said.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has begun examining wreckage recovered from the crash site and the in-flight recorder.