Karim Fayed has thanked the Fulham faithful for their ‘special’ tribute to his late father Mohamed Al-Fayed before, during and after the Whites’ 1-0 win over Luton Town yesterday afternoon.
The Egyptian billionaire’s youngest son, who took a leading role in the development of Fulham’s Foundation and served as the club’s vice chairman for the final year of Al-Fayed’s tenure Craven Cottage, joined club director David Daly and the Fulham Supporters’ Trust chair Simon Duke in laying floral tributes to his father before a minute’s silence in Al-Fayed’s honour.
The home fans sang Al-Fayed’s name throughout the first home game since the former chairman’s passing and greeted the team, who wore black armbands, by swirling special scarves in the way he did before games at Craven Cottage.
Karim Fayed told the Athletic’s Peter Rutzler:
“It was wonderful. One of the things that I remember from my time here is that it was important for my father to engage with the fans in many ways. It’s one of the things where we felt very close. For me it was a fantastic opportunity, watching him take the club to where it is now. It is something I will always keep close to me. The scarf-waving was a brilliant idea. Not many chairmen did that.
I really enjoyed watching the club, bringing fantastic players [to Fulham], watching those players in the Premier League. They were rare moments and fantastic days when I was growing up. I’m extremely proud that he’s also managed to keep the club where it is and pass on the baton. It is a club that we we all want … to stay in the Premier League for a time.
Mo was brilliant and he bought a lot of good players to the club.
Mo was an owner/chairman, who employed football professionals to advise and run the on field matters and didn’t suffer fools or bullsh**ers gladly.
I’m sure Mohamad and his family has Fulham in their blood…..an FFC legend for ever.
Without Mr Fayed FFC wouldn’t be were we are today not just the football also the refurbishment of the ground RIP