Leicester orgy pair’s new clubs
TWO of the three Leicester City players sacked for taking part in a ‘ racist orgy’ in Bangkok have been handed a route back into professional football.
Goalkeeper Adam Smith, 22, agreed a two- year deal at Northampton on the same day that Scunthorpe United announced they had signed striker Tom Hopper, 21.
Both were thrown out of Barclays Premier League club Leicester alongside James Pearson — the 22-year-old son of Leicester manager Nigel — after film became public of them committing sex acts with three Thai girls in which one was racially abused.
The naked players were caught hurling insults during the clip, shared among friends back in the UK, with one woman called a ‘slit eye’ and another labelled ‘minging’.
All three were sent home from the club’s end-of-season tour of Thailand and, despite issuing an official apology, had their contracts terminated.
Yesterday both players attempted to head off criticism by repeating their regrets over the incident, which happened on a goodwill tour organised by the club’s Thai owners — while their new clubs were anxious to explain why they were offering the disgraced young players a second chance.
Scunthorpe did not reveal the length of contract signed by Hopper, who spent time with them on loan last season.
BUT a club statement said: ‘ We would like to make it clear that we are fully aware of the recent publicity surrounding the young striker and have put a considerable amount of thought into the decision to sign him.
‘However, Tom is a player that we are very much aware of, having signed him on loan last season, and we feel that we know his true character, which was not represented by this regrettable incident.
‘While we fully understand the position taken by Leicester City in this matter and we do not condone Tom’s actions, we have discussed the issue at length with the player and he has shown a great deal of remorse and a real willingness to rehabilitate himself.’
Smith did not make a firstteam appearance for Leicester, and was sent on loan to six different clubs.
He said: ‘Everyone knows I got myself in a situation which I’m deeply ashamed of and sorry for. We’re all deeply ashamed and sorry — all three of us. I know the club here do a lot to do with anti-racism and I’m hoping to get involved.’
Northampton boss Chris Wilder said: ‘We live in a society where, as long as people show genuine remorse, admit their mistake, learn from it and apologise then they deserve a second chance. Adam knows that and he is determined to take this chance.’ LEICESTER have made Japanese international striker Shinji Okazaki their third signing of the summer, after agreeing a four-year deal with the 29-year- old who had been at German side Mainz 05.
Okazaki scored 27 goals in two seasons at Mainz to help the minnows not only survive in the Bundesliga but qualify for the Europa League.