Leicester City Football Club launched an internal investigation on Sunday following a report in the Sunday Mirror that three Foxes players took part in an orgy in Thailand. The report features video of the sportsmen directing racist abuse at three local prostitutes.
According to the newspaper, James Pearson, 21, Tom Hopper, 21, and Adam Smith, 22, were on club duty during a post-season trip when the incident took place in Bangkok. James Pearson is the son of club manager Nigel Pearson, 51.
Between giggles, one player can be heard saying, “Come on... you slit-eye.” Another woman is told she is “f***ing minging… an absolute one out of 10.”
According to the Leicester Mercury, Nigel Pearson is a patron of football's "Kick It Out" anti-racism initiative.
WARNING: The video features offensive language:
The following message appeared on the Foxes website on Sunday afternoon:
We take the conduct of our players at every level extremely seriously and will take appropriate action, if necessary, once the full facts of the situation have been established. Pending the outcome of an internal investigation, the Club will make no further comment.
The incident will prove a hugely embarrassing to the club's Thai owners Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, particularly as one of Leicester City's main sponsors if the Tourism Authority of Thailand.