During a game on Saturday at the King Power Stadium, featuring two clubs already relegated to the Championship, Leicester City`s renowned player Jamie Vardy was central to the action. Beyond scoring a goal in the 2-0 win against Southampton FC during what is his final season with Leicester, Vardy also played a role in assisting referee David Webb.
Approximately 22 minutes into the match, referee David Webb fell to the ground after being hit by Leicester forward Jordan Ayew. As players showed concern for the clearly injured official, Vardy took it upon himself to stop play. Recognizing that the game usually continues until the whistle blows and Webb was unable to do so, Vardy picked up the whistle and sounded it, pausing the game. Webb was ultimately able to leave the field unassisted but was substituted by Phil Sharp after a delay of nearly 12 minutes.
Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy commented after the match, stating, “I felt sorry for the ref. He hit a brick wall called Jordan Ayew. That is not easy.” He added, “And Jamie Vardy blew his whistle to stop the game, so we helped him out there.”
Known for his memorable moments throughout his career with Leicester City, it seems appropriate that Vardy was involved in such an unusual incident as blowing the referee`s whistle. His significant contributions to the club include helping the Foxes reach the Premier League, setting a record with goals in 11 consecutive league games, and being part of the team that famously won the Premier League title in the 2015-16 season.
Although Leicester City will be returning to the Championship, Vardy is set to play his last home game for the club at the King Power Stadium on May 18th against Ipswich Town, another team also relegated. As he approaches the end of his time with Leicester at age 38, his future plans are unclear. However, his tenure has provided numerous memorable moments in the Premier League for the club, with Saturday`s event adding to that list.
Dominic Ashworth