By Rob Draper for The Mail on Sunday
Published: 01:26 GMT, 10 February 2019 | Updated: 01:26 GMT, 10 February 2019
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Social media backing from Jamie Vardy, Didier Drogba and Gary Lineker has boosted the spirits of imprisoned Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi, according to the former Crystal Palace player campaigning for his release.
Yet the physical health of al-Araibi, who is detained in Thailand and who has also been supported by Vardy's wife, Rebekah, and Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini, is deteriorating as he faces another two months of imprisonment and the prospect of a return to Bahrain, where he fears torture.
Craig Foster, the former Australia national team captain, Portsmouth and Palace midfielder, visited al-Araibi in his Thai prison on Thursday, where human rights campaigners says he is illegally detained due to his refugee status in Australia.
Hakeem al-Araibi faces two months of imprisonment and the prospect of a return to Bahrain
'He is extremely low but incredibly buoyed when I told him about Didier Drogba, Gary Lineker, Giorgio Chiellini and Jamie Vardy,' said Foster. 'He was ecstatic. His physical and emotional condition
