Mixed-heritage football player secures tribunal victory and seeks £12 million following manager's derogatory remark of 'curry muncher'

Amrit Bansal-McNulty, a former midfielder for Queens Park Rangers (QPR), has achieved a partial victory in his employment tribunal case against John Yems, the former manager of Crawley Town. The tribunal found that Bansal-McNulty, during his loan period at Crawley, was subjected to racial harassment, a ruling that has significant implications for both Yems and Crawley Town. The 26-year-old, who has represented Northern Ireland at the Under-21 level, is now seeking approximately £12 million in compensation, claiming that the abuse he endured has caused lasting psychiatric damage and effectively ended his professional football career.

The tribunal proceedings, which spanned 30 days at the London Employment Tribunal, involved allegations against Yems, Crawley Town, and QPR, where Bansal-McNulty developed his skills after joining the academy in 2014. The tribunal upheld three claims of racial harassment against Yems, while dismissing those against QPR. One notable incident involved Yems referring to Bansal-McNulty as a “curry muncher” and questioning whether he was upset that a sponsor's pizza did not include a “curry pizza.” Yems defended his comments as “banter,” but the tribunal rejected this argument, concluding that the remarks constituted racial harassment.

The tribunal's ruling establishes that Crawley Town is vicariously liable for Yems' conduct during his tenure as manager from 2019 to 2022. Bansal-McNulty is now pursuing compensation, asserting that the treatment he received led to serious psychological harm and derailed his football career. The tribunal noted that he claims to have suffered career-ending injuries due to the harassment, which has left him without a professional appearance since leaving QPR in 2022 after several loan spells.

Yems has been a controversial figure in English football, facing scrutiny after allegations of discriminatory behavior emerged in 2022. Following complaints from players regarding his use of racist language, Crawley Town suspended him. The Football Association subsequently charged Yems with multiple breaches of conduct, resulting in a 17-month suspension that was later extended to three years, marking the longest ban for discrimination-related offenses in English football history. Despite the majority of charges being upheld, the original FA commission controversially concluded that Yems was “not a conscious racist.”

In its final observations, the tribunal remarked on the broader implications of the case, stating, “Unfortunately, there are no real winners in this case.” While Bansal-McNulty has seen partial success in his claims against Yems and Crawley Town, his claims against QPR were dismissed. The tribunal noted that Yems was unlikely to achieve the exoneration he sought regarding his conduct and character. A remedy hearing will now take place to determine the level of compensation, if any, to be awarded to Bansal-McNulty.