QPR and Crawley Town Confront £11.1m Legal Battle Over Alleged Racist Abuse
Queens Park Rangers and Crawley Town are embroiled in a high-stakes legal dispute, facing a lawsuit for over £11 million from former player Amrit Bansal-McNulty. The claim, currently under review at the Central London Employment Tribunal, alleges that both clubs failed to shield the player from racist banter, which he asserts obliterated his professional football career and inflicted severe psychological trauma. Both QPR and Crawley have firmly denied any misconduct in this contentious case.
Details of the Allegations and Tribunal Proceedings
Bansal-McNulty's legal action stems from his loan spell at Crawley during the 2021-22 season, where he accuses then-manager John Yems of subjecting him to racial abuse. Yems, aged 66, is serving a three-year ban from football—the longest ever imposed by the FA for discrimination—after being found guilty on 12 charges of using discriminatory language. Notably, four other charges were dismissed, but the FA successfully appealed to extend his initial suspension and challenge a commission's finding that he was not a conscious racist.
The tribunal has heard testimony from Bansal-McNulty, Yems, and several QPR officials, including academy director Alex Carroll, former technical directors Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey, and ex-manager Mark Warburton. Written submissions are scheduled for next week, with a liability decision anticipated this month. Should the ruling favor the player, a subsequent hearing will determine the exact damages awarded.
Financial Claims and Career Impact
In documents submitted to the tribunal, Bansal-McNulty is seeking a net award of £6.1 million, with a gross figure of £11.1 million before tax deductions. His legal team presented evidence, such as text messages from former QPR coach Paul Hall, which favorably compared Bansal-McNulty to players like Eberechi Eze and Ilias Chair. Despite joining QPR at age 14, Bansal-McNulty never made a first-team appearance for the club. After four League Two appearances for Crawley and three in cup competitions, he was released by QPR when his contract expired at the end of the 2021-22 season. Since then, he has only played for Waltham Abbey in the Isthmian League North Division.
Specific Incidents and Club Responses
The allegations include Yems referring to Bansal-McNulty as a "curry muncher" and questioning if he was upset over the absence of "curry pizza" in sponsor-provided meals. Bansal-McNulty's claim heavily relies on a phone conversation with Chris Ramsey in April 2022, where he reported Yems's "racist banter." The player alleges that Ramsey downplayed the issue, suggesting such language was common in lower divisions and that he needed to cope with it. Ramsey, however, testified that while Bansal-McNulty complained about banter, he was not informed it was racist, and he denied minimizing the player's experiences.
Yems admitted to using the term "curry pizza" but described it as a joke intended to lift Bansal-McNulty's spirits after a poor performance. During his ban, Yems has undergone diversity training to better understand the impact of his language. Crawley suspended Yems in April 2022 after multiple squad members reported racist behavior, leading to his departure by mutual consent the following month and FA charges on 16 counts of discriminatory language.
Broader Context and Legal Ramifications
Only one other former Crawley player beyond Bansal-McNulty testified at the tribunal, despite five being listed. Several players had previously reported Yems to the Professional Footballers' Association and testified in the FA hearing, but Bansal-McNulty is the sole individual pursuing legal action. The case highlights ongoing issues of racism in football and the responsibilities of clubs to protect players from abuse. QPR and Crawley have been approached for further comment as the tribunal proceedings continue, with potential implications for how football addresses discrimination and player welfare in the future.
