An independent Football Association (FA) tribunal has upheld three claims of racial harassment against former Crawley Town manager John Yems. The decision marks a significant development in a case that has drawn considerable attention to issues of discrimination within English football. The tribunal's findings relate to allegations made by Amrit Bansal-McNulty, who is currently pursuing legal action against his former clubs, Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Crawley, seeking approximately £12 million in damages.
The claims against Yems were detailed as part of a wider legal battle initiated by Bansal-McNulty, who alleges that both clubs failed in their duty to protect him from the abuse he experienced. While the specific details of the tribunal's findings regarding the upheld claims have not been fully disclosed, the outcome underscores the seriousness with which such allegations are being addressed by football's governing bodies. This ruling follows a previous incident where Yems was banned from all football-related activity for 15 months by the FA in January 2023, after being found guilty of multiple breaches of FA rules concerning discriminatory comments.
During that earlier FA hearing, Yems was found to have made remarks that included discriminatory references to ethnicity, race, and religion. The FA's independent regulatory commission at the time described his comments as 'serious, repeated, and prolonged', impacting multiple players. The current tribunal's decision to uphold further claims of racial harassment adds another layer to the established pattern of behaviour attributed to the former manager.
The ongoing legal proceedings by Bansal-McNulty against QPR and Crawley are distinct from the FA tribunal's findings but are intrinsically linked, as they centre on the clubs' alleged failure to safeguard him from the discriminatory environment he reportedly faced under Yems's management. The substantial sum being sought in damages highlights the severe impact such experiences can have on individuals and the perceived responsibility of clubs to foster inclusive and protective environments for their employees.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that persist in tackling discrimination within professional football. The outcomes of both the FA tribunals and the ongoing civil claims will likely have broader implications for how clubs are held accountable for the conduct of their staff and their responsibilities in preventing and addressing discriminatory practices across the sport.
Source: Independent FA tribunal, Amrit Bansal-McNulty's legal filings