Premier League

LEICESTER CITY HELICOPTER CRASH: WITH OR WITHOUT THE CLUB OWNER’S BODY, FUNERAL HOLDS ON SATURDAY

Published

6 years ago

November 1, 2018

The funeral of the Leicester City owner who died in a helicopter crash is to begin in Thailand on Saturday BBC reports.nnVichai Srivaddhanaprabha died along with two members of his staff, the pilot and a passenger when the aircraft came down in a car park moments after taking off from the King Power Stadium.nnDetails announced in Thailand said the ceremony would begin in the evening with Buddhist bathing rituals.nnCrash investigations are still taking place at the football ground.nnNusara Suknamai, Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz also died in the crash on Saturday.nnPolice have now formally identified four of the victims and coroners are still to formally identify the fifth.nnThe funeral details, issued to Thai media, said a bathing ceremony would start at a temple in Bangkok on 3 November.nnThis will be followed by recitation ceremonies over seven days. The date of a cremation ceremony has not been set yet.nnBecause of Mr Vichai’s contributions to various charities, the funeral has been described as “royal sponsored”.nnThe BBC understands a funeral ceremony would take place with or without the 60-year-old’s body.nnAs investigators work to find the cause of the crash, aviation experts analysing video footage said it suggests there was a problem with the tail rotor before the helicopter started spinning.nnEarlier this week, Mr Vichai’s son, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha – known as Top – said he would now try carry on his father’s “big vision and dreams” for Leicester City.nnA huge display of floral and footballing tributes has been left outside the stadium and a steady stream of people have been signing a book of condolence at the ground since it opened on Tuesday.nnFamilies of those who died, players and members of the wider Leicester community have also been visiting the memorial, and club staff and players have been offered counselling.nnFormer manager Claudio Ranieri visited the site on Thursday with Mr Vichai’s family to lay his own wreath.nnRanieri, 67, was appointed manager of the Foxes in 2015, guiding them to the Premier League title a year later in what many called “a fairytale” for the club.nnCurrent manager Claude Puel said his players made the decision to go ahead with the Premier League match at Cardiff City on Saturday.nnThe club’s Carabao Cup match with Southampton, originally scheduled for 30 October, was postponed following the crash, and Mr Puel said the result of Saturday’s game is “not important”.nnSpeaking in a press conference on Thursday, Puel added: “Playing football has not been at front of our minds this week.”nn”But for this weekend, and all the matches thereafter, we play to honour a man who did so much for our club,” he said.nnIn Leicester, two sisters are planning a memorial walk from the city centre to the King Power Stadium on 10 November, with thousands of people expected to attend.nnPupils at a Leicester school were allowed to wear Leicester City shirts or something blue with their uniform on Thursday in recognition of the club chairman.nnAnd Leicester Cathedral said it would be ringing its bells for an hour on Friday evening in memory of all those who died.nnLeicester City have confirmed they will travel by road to their game at Cardiff on Saturday rather than fly, as it was felt insensitive to go by plane given the circumstances of Mr Vichai’s death.nn nn

Premier League

Premier League referee to wear camera for first time in today’s Palace v Man United clash

Published

18 hours ago

May 6, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - April 25, 2024 Referee Jarred Gillett Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Referee Jarred Gillett will wear a camera for the first time in Premier League history during Monday’s fixture between Crystal Palace and Manchester United as part of filming for a one-off programme promoting match officials, the league said on Monday.

Last year, the Football Association announced it will trial body cameras on referees in grassroots leagues in England in a bid to ascertain whether the technology could help “improve participant behaviour and respect towards referees”.

The Bundesliga also used the ‘RefCam’ for the first time during a 2-2 draw between Eintracht Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg in February.

“Fans will be able to view it later in the year as part of a programme being produced by Premier League Productions aimed at offering further insight and education into the demands of officiating in the Premier League,” the league said in a statement.

“The technology comprises a head-mounted device which is integrated into the usual referee communications system.

“Its one-off use for educational purposes has been approved by the IFAB (International Football Association Board), the Premier League, PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and both clubs. We would like to thank Crystal Palace and Manchester United for their support with this project.”

-Reuters

Premier League

Chelsea’s Pochettino cries foul over VAR decision in 2-2 draw with Villa

Published

1 week ago

April 28, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Premier League - Aston Villa v Chelsea - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - April 27, 2024 Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino reacts after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

A VAR decision chalking off what looked to be a late winner for Chelsea at Aston Villa on Saturday has damaged the Premier League, the London club’s manager Mauricio Pochettino said.

His side thought they have completed a remarkable comeback when substitute Axel Disasi netted in second-half stoppage time, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR review penalised a push by Benoit Badiashile in the build-up.

“Me and you and everyone in the stadium watching the game, they didn’t see a foul on the pitch and then VAR changed the decision of the referee. For me that was a normal challenge. The decision was there and that’s it,” Pochettino told broadcaster TNT following the 2-2 draw.

“For me, it damaged a little bit the Premier League and English (football). If we want to be the best league in the world it should be protecting the spectacle and the decision … (it) damaged myself, damaged my team, my players, the fans,” he added.

Chelsea were 2-0 down at the break but goals from Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher put them level before the late goal was overturned.

“The performance was very good and we played really well. It is true in the first half we conceded easy … to play Villa, who are fighting for the top four, I am pleased with the team and the players were good,” Pochettino said.

Villa boss Unai Emery said his side, who are currently in fourth spot and seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, still had their sights set on qualifying for next season’s Champions League. Spurs, however, have three games in hand.

“We have to try to keep being consistent with the players we have and I believe in the players … in Premier League we are fighting with Tottenham for fourth position,” he said.

-Reuters

Premier League

Salah in touchline row with Klopp as Liverpool drop points

Published

1 week ago

April 28, 2024

Kunle Solaja

West Ham United v Liverpool - London Stadium, London, Britain - April 27, 2024 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah talks to manager Juergen Klopp after being substituted Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah appeared to have a heated exchange with manager Juergen Klopp shortly before the Egypt international was brought on as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 Premier League draw at West Ham United on Saturday.

Salah, who has not been at his best since returning from injury last month, was brought on in the 79th minute, just after the Hammers’ second goal levelled the game.

He appeared angry with Klopp on the touchline before he was introduced and continued to remonstrate with his manager as fellow substitute Darwin Nunez pushed him away from the German.

Klopp tried to play down the incident, telling reporters: “We spoke about that in the dressing room and it’s done for me, that’s all.”

But Salah seemed to have a different perspective and refused interviews with reporters in the mixed zone, saying: “There’s going to be fire today if I speak.”

Saturday’s draw further dented Liverpool’s already slim chances of winning the Premier League in Klopp’s final season with the club and leaves them reliant on rivals Arsenal and Manchester City dropping points in the run-in.

-Reuters