Kiyan Prince to become virtual Fifa player

Former QPR youth player Kiyan Prince has been added to Fifa 21 to mark the 15th anniversary of his death.

Prince will also be listed as a QPR squad member during the 2021-22 season and his likeness will feature on a special edition trading card.

On seeing his son as a 30-year-old, Dr Mark Prince OBE told BBC Breakfast: "It was very emotional. I could see Kiyan in there. I'm really proud."

Special effects studio Framestore virtually recreated Kiyan and the imagery will also feature on billboards as part of an advertising campaign.

"Kiyan Prince returns to life as the professional footballer he should have been," QPR tweeted.

Dr Prince set up the Kiyan Prince Foundation to educate young people about the consequences of knife crime, and in 2019, QPR renamed their Loftus Road ground after the charity.

"I want my son to be remembered not for the tragedy of his death but for the triumph of his achievements," he said.

"Through this campaign my hope is that the world finally gets to glimpse Kiyan's incredible potential fulfilled, we get to honour his talent and, hopefully, we can inspire other kids to honour their own talent too - whatever their own strengths might be."

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, QPR's director of football Les Ferdinand said: "If one person who plays Fifa can look at this and put his knife down, that's the important legacy we want."

Ferdinand explained that when the club renamed their stadium, they invited Kiyan's father to speak with their players.

"The squad were truly humbled by Mark's bravery and his dedication to use his pain to prevent others from having to walk the same path he has had to walk," added the former QPR and England striker.

"As a club, we have worked closely with the Kiyan Prince Foundation and it has been an honour to get to know Mark on a personal level during that time. What he has been through is every parent's worst nightmare and his response to such a tragedy has been truly inspiring."

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May 18, 2021 at 09:40PM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57155354