Murdered footballer becomes virtual FIFA player 15 years on from his death

At just 15 years old, Kiyan Prince’s dreams of becoming a professional footballer were snatched away when he became a victim of knife crime.

Now, deep fake technology has created a replica of the player he could have been.

Kiyan was a promising youngster who was signed to the Queens Park Rangers youth team.

However, in 2006 he was tragically killed as he tried to break up a fight outside his school in Edgware.

To mark the 15th anniversary of his death, Queens Park Rangers have resigned Kiyan and he will appear virtually as a FIFA player.

The images of Kiyan as a 30-year-old were created through a combination of advanced deep fake technology, illustration, and input from scientists and Kiyan’s family.

Kiyan’s father, Dr Mark Prince OBE, hopes the images of his son fulfilling his childhood dream will inspire other vulnerable young people to do the same.

Kiyan, he said, was a “young black boy whose life was taken too early”.

Since his son’s death, Dr Prince has dedicated his life to combating knife crime and gang culture through the Kiyan Prince Foundation.

He’s currently trying to raise enough money to create a permanent base for the charity.

After Kiyan died, the law was changed and the age people could legally buy a knife was raised to 18.

However, knife crime still persists 15 years on from his death.

According to Dr Prince, there needs to be more investment into early preventative measures, and “policies and procedures in place to safeguard not criminalise children”.

Many young people look to footballers as role models, and the chief executive of Queens Park Rangers believes clubs can play an important role in keeping young people off the streets.

Lee Hoos says although not all young people will make it as a professional player, football can provide them with the skills to make a “decent living” and become successful “no matter what they decide to do”.