Footballer sacked for racist video finds new team

Former Leicester City goalkeeper Adam Smith has signed with Northampton Town after being sacked for his part in a racist video. Photo / Getty

One of three players sacked by Premier League side Leicester after appearing in a sexually-explicit video, where they were seen racially abusing a Thai woman, has joined fourth-tier club Northampton Town.

Adam Smith, a 22-year-old goalkeeper, has signed a two-year deal with the Cobblers.
He is the first of the sacked Foxes trio, who also include James Pearson, son of Leicester manager Nigel, and Tom Hopper to find a new team after the three players were all sacked by the Midlands side earlier this month.

The players appeared in a leaked video from the club's end-of-season 'goodwill tour' of Thailand, during which several crude remarks were made, including one of two Thai women being called a "slit-eye".

Following an internal investigation, Leicester, whose owners are the Thai father-and-son combination of businessmen Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, terminated the players' contracts.

Smith, speaking to reporters on Friday, apologised for his part in the video and vowed to mend his ways.

"Obviously everyone knows I got myself in a situation that I'm deeply ashamed of and sorry for. I'm pleased the manager here has given me a second chance and it's down to me," he said.

"We're all deeply ashamed and sorry - all three of us that took part in it," Smith added.
"I know the club here do a lot to do with anti-racism and I'm hoping to get involved in stuff like that.

"The way the papers said it ... they've come out as if all three of us are racist but it was one comment, that wasn't made by me, I don't want that floating above my head. If I've got to do (anti-)racism work to prove that, I'll do that."

Northampton manager Chris Wilder said he had no problem in giving Smith another chance to make a career in professional football.

"We all understand that we live in a society that offers people second chances. I've met the boy, he's obviously disappointed in what's happened and his actions and he has to move on and get on with his life and his career and we're giving him an opportunity to do that here at this football club."

- AAP