Leicester City reprimand players over party incident as Top delivers message
The Leicester City players have been told by the club that their conduct at the squad Christmas party was “not acceptable”.
The City players flew out to Copenhagen last Saturday night for their scheduled Christmas do. On Sunday, in the immediate aftermath of Steve Cooper’s sacking, video emerged from a nightclub in the Danish capital that showed some laughing at a board that said ‘Enzo, I miss you’, very likely in reference to the club’s former manager.
While the timing was unfortunate, the club did not feel that the video showed the club in an acceptable light. There were reports this week that the players received a talking-to from chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha, with caretaker boss Ben Dawson confirming the squad have been reprimanded over the incident.
READ MORE: Thomas Frank baffled by Leicester City manager decision and rues 'terrible' timing
READ MORE: Exact date snow to is predicted to hit parts of UK again as freezing December forecast
“The time off was scheduled,” Dawson said. “The players are entitled to do what they want with that time off. The particular issue has been dealt with internally and we’ve all moved on from it.
"They’ve had that key message from the club that what’s gone on was not acceptable and we need to move on. All eyes have since been on training well and putting in a performance tomorrow.”
Dawson will take charge at Brentford on Saturday and has said the players will know there will be a harsher spotlight on their performance after Cooper’s sacking. Incoming manager Ruud van Nistelrooy is also expected to be present.
Asked what the chairman had told the players ahead of this weekend’s game, Dawson said: “It’s just been to give a positive account of ourselves and of the football club. (Sackings) are part and parcel of the industry even if they’re not nice. We just have to make sure the players are in the best position possible and give a performance that reflects what the fans would expect.”