Kiyan Prince becomes world’s first VIRTUAL footballer after being re-signed by QPR

Murdered teen Kiyan Prince becomes the world’s first VIRTUAL footballer after being re-signed by QPR and featuring on the FIFA 21 video game – 15 years after he was stabbed to death trying to break up a fight

  • Kiyan Prince was tragically killed while breaking up a school fight 15 years ago
  • Prince was a promising youth team player at Queens Park Rangers at the time
  • Re-signing will see him be given No 30 shirt and appear on match programmes 
  • FIFA 21 have also added him to the Hoops team on sections of their video game
  • Former Hoops striker Les Ferdinand called signing the club’s ‘most important’ 

Former QPR youth player Kiyan Prince has been added to the FIFA 21 game to mark the anniversary of his tragic death fifteen years ago. 

Kiyan was a promising young player at QPR when at the age of just 15 he was killed after being stabbed while trying to break up a fight at his school.

Now he will also be listed as a squad member on all matchday programmes while being given the No 30 shirt after being re-signed.

Kiyan Prince has been re-signed by QPR as a virtual footballer 15 years on from his tragic death

Using AI technology he will now appear as part of QPR's squad on the video game FIFA 21

Using AI technology he will now appear as part of QPR’s squad on the video game FIFA 21

As part of being a virtual footballer he will now feature on the famous video game from May 18 as part of QPR’s squad.

He will be available as a playable player in Kick-Off Mode and Career Mode on the popular EA Sports franchise.

In addition on the Ultimate Team section of the game, fans will now be able to access custom Prince vanity items by completing in-game objectives. These include a Kiyan Prince Foundation Kit based upon the 2004-05 Hoops home design and an honorary TIFO of Prince that appears every time a goal is scored. 

Kiyan has been given the No 30 shirt by QPR and will appear on matchday programmes

Kiyan has been given the No 30 shirt by QPR and will appear on matchday programmes

He is a playable character on the game and will be seen on famous London billboards

He is a playable character on the game and will be seen on famous London billboards

Kiyan’s new virtual character will also be seen by the public on some of the country’s most iconic billboards such as Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street as part of an advertising campaign by JD Sports, while he will now also feature as a special edition card in the Topps’ Match Attax card game.

A combination of AI technology and photo-real illustration was used to detail how Kiyan would look today as a 30-year-old.

Legendary QPR striker Les Ferdinand has called the signing the most important they will ever make having worked closely with the Kiyan Prince Foundation, which is run by Kiyan’s father Dr Mark Prince OBE.  In 2019 they renamed their stadium in the charity’s honour.

Kiyan was tragically killed 15 years ago after trying to break up a fight at his school

Kiyan was tragically killed 15 years ago after trying to break up a fight at his school

Ex-QPR star Les Ferdinand has called the signing 'the most important' they have made

Ex-QPR star Les Ferdinand has called the signing ‘the most important’ they have made

Kiyan is pictured taking part in a school sports day in 2005

Kiyan is pictured taking part in a school sports day in 2005

Ferdinand hopes this new initiative can raise even more awareness and reach even more people.

‘Loads of young guys play FIFA, and they will see this and think about not just him losing his life, but his family, the part of their lives that was lost,’ former England striker Ferdinand said.

‘The guy that committed the murder went to prison, so his family’s life was lost. Leaving your house with a knife is an intention, whether our intention is to protect yourself or to take somebody else’s life.

‘We’ve got to get this out of people’s minds. Hopefully this is something that might be able to prick someone’s conscience and think, “well you know what, let’s put this knife down”.’

KIYAN PRINCE TRAGEDY

Hannad Hasan was convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Kiyan Prince

Hannad Hasan was convicted at the Old Bailey of murdering Kiyan Prince

Kiyan Prince died from a single stab wound to the heart outside his school in May 2006.

He was attacked after trying to stop a fight outside the gates of the London Academy in Edgware, north London.

Hannad Hasan, then aged 16, and a fellow pupil, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2007.

The Somali teenager – who was obsessed with the gang that killed PC Sharon Beshenivsky – was said to be taking part in an initiation rite for a notorious street gang.

Kiyan had tried to break up a fight between Hasan – known as The Killer – and another boy. But Hasan pulled out a penknife and plunged it into Kiyan’s arm and heart, shouting: ‘Who’s laughing? Who’s laughing?’

Kiyan died three hours later in hospital.

A friend of Hasan said he had become caught up with a lawless Somali-dominated gang known as Thug Fam which is based in Edgware, north west London – close to where Hasan lived with his mother in a ninth-floor council flat.

Members of the public who want to support the campaign can donate to the Kiyan Prince Foundation by texting KPF (then the amount) to 70490. For more information please visit: https://www.thekpf.com/.