Premier League

LEICESTER CITY HELICOPTER CRASH: WRECKAGE REMOVED

Published

5 years ago

November 2, 2018

The wreckage of the helicopter, which crashed near to Leicester City’s stadium last Saturday has been removed.nnClub owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s body has also arrived in Thailand ahead of his funeral on Saturday.nnAccording to BBC, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has begun examining parts of the wreckage and the in-flight recorder.nnMr Vichai died with two members of his staff, the pilot and a passenger when the aircraft came down near the King Power Stadium on Saturday.nnAn AAIB spokesman said the wreckage had arrived at its specialist facility in Farnborough and inspectors gathered all the evidence that could be collected from the scene.nnThe wreckage will be “laid out and more detailed examination can continue”, he said.nn”The digital flight recorder is in our laboratory. Although subject to intense heat in the post-accident fire, initial work on it has allowed us to successfully download the recordings.nn”Our inspectors are verifying the extracted information and have started the detailed analysis of its contents,” the spokesman added.nnA black vehicle, thought to be carrying Mr Vichai’s body, was seen travelling from Don Mueang airport to the temple where the funeral is scheduled to take place on Saturday.nnNusara Suknamai, Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz, also died in the crash last Saturday.nnPolice said the coroner has now formally identified all five of the victims.nnLeicester City are due to play Cardiff on Saturday, which will be their first game since the crash. They were due to play Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, but the match was rescheduled.nnThe club has confirmed that some players and staff will be flying out to Thailand after Saturday’s game.nnIn a press conference on Thursday, Leicester manager Claude Puel said the result at the Cardiff game was “not important”.nnHe added that Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, named as one of the first people on the scene after the helicopter crashed, “saw a lot of things”.nnAn eyewitness saw Schmeichel run out from the stadium on Saturday night followed by “loads of security guards and stewards”.nnPuel said: “Kasper, like the other players, has a lot of history with the chairman and they are all devastated.”nnAhead of Saturday’s game, Leicester striker Jamie Vardy told Sky Sports: “For us as players, we want to get a positive result.”nnThe 31-year-old added: “We need to make sure we go out there and honour his name and put in a performance that will hopefully get the win.nn”We all spoke about wanting to play. It’s what Vichai would have wanted and that’s what we are going to do.”nnAll Premier League games this weekend will be preceded by a minute’s silence, and players will wear black armbands.nnOn flying to Thailand for the funeral, he said: “It’s been the hardest week of everyone’s lives.nn”It’ll be massively important we attend. We are a close-knit group and one big family and one of the main reasons for that is Vichai – so it’s massively important.nn”He wasn’t just a chairman, he literally was part of your extended family.”nn nnThe night before he died, pilot Mr Swaffer emailed a carpet company requesting a blue runner for the helicopter.nnThe firm’s managing director Myles Shaw said it had now been personalised with the Leicester City logo and was being sent to the club.nn”It was something we needed to do,” Mr Shaw added.nn

Premier League

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

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

Premier League

Iheanacho, Ndidi back in Premier League as Leicester City get promotion

Published

5 days ago

April 27, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Leicester City earned promotion back to the Premier League on Friday after nearest rivals Leeds United were beaten 4-0 by Queens Park Rangers, ensuring the Championship leaders will finish in the top two in the standings.

This means that the Super Eagles duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi, both players of Leicester City again taste action in the English Premier League next season.

The result of Leed City and QPR left second-placed Leeds’s chances of automatic promotion from the second-tier Championship hanging by a thread. They trail Leicester by four points with one game left to play and are only a point ahead of Ipswich Town, who have two games in hand.

It was a dream first half for QPR as the London side scored two goals without reply.

First Ilias Chair scored with a deflected effort from outside the area, while a curled finish from Lucas Andersen midway through the first half made it 2-0.

Leeds tried to up the pressure in the second half but with little effect, with French forward Georginio Rutter pulling a shot wide from the middle of the penalty area.

Scottish forward Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field both scored headers from set pieces in the second half to complete the 4-0 win.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke turned to his bench to try and influence the game and it was one of those substitutes, striker Mateo Joseph, who came closest, seeing his close-range attempt turned wide by Rangers keeper Asmir Begovic

-Reuters