Amrit Bansal-McNulty, a former Queens Park Rangers midfielder, has secured a partial victory in his employment tribunal against ex-Crawley Town manager John Yems. The tribunal found that Bansal-McNulty was subjected to racial harassment during a loan spell at the club. The 26-year-old former Northern Ireland Under-21 international is now pursuing compensation reportedly valued at around £12 million, claiming the abuse caused psychiatric damage and effectively ended his professional playing career.
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The case, heard over 30 days at the London Employment Tribunal, involved claims against Yems, Crawley Town, and QPR. Bansal-McNulty, who has an Indian father and Irish mother, alleged racial and religious discrimination and harassment during his 2021-22 loan stint at Crawley Town. Three claims of racial harassment against Yems were upheld, while those against QPR were dismissed. According to reports, one incident involved Yems calling the midfielder a “curry muncher” and asking if he was upset that sponsor-provided pizzas lacked a “curry pizza.” Yems argued it was “banter,” but the tribunal rejected this, concluding the remarks amounted to racial harassment. The tribunal stated: “We found that Crawley Town was vicariously liable for his conduct which was in the course of his employment. The claims against QPR failed.” This means Crawley Town bears legal responsibility for Yems’ actions from 2019 to 2022.
Bansal-McNulty is now seeking approximately £12 million in compensation, arguing the treatment caused severe psychological harm and derailed his football career. The tribunal noted: “The Claimant is seeking circa £12 million compensation as he claims that he suffered psychiatric, and career-ending, injury because of the treatment which he had suffered.” The midfielder left QPR in 2022 without a first-team appearance after several loan spells and has not played professionally since. During proceedings, he alleged that QPR and former academy director Chris Ramsey failed to adequately support or protect him after racism concerns emerged. Both Ramsey and QPR denied wrongdoing, and the tribunal dismissed claims against the Championship club. Evidence showed Ramsey contacted the player on the day allegations against Yems became public, with Bansal-McNulty alleging the conversation focused heavily on whether he had leaked the story, which he found intimidating given his contract was nearing its end. His deal was not renewed.
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Yems had already become a controversial figure after allegations of discriminatory behavior surfaced in 2022. Crawley Town suspended him that April after squad members raised concerns. The Football Association later charged Yems with multiple breaches involving discriminatory language. Although he denied all but one allegation, 11 of 15 charges were upheld by an FA disciplinary commission. He initially received a 17-month suspension, later increased to three years following an FA appeal—making it the longest ban ever issued by the FA for discrimination-related offenses. The suspension ended in January this year. The original FA commission controversially concluded Yems was “not a conscious racist” despite upholding most charges.
In its final observations, the tribunal acknowledged the broader damage: “Unfortunately there are no real winners in this case. Whilst the Claimant has been partially successful in his claims against Mr Yems, and vicariously Crawley Town, his claims against QPR have failed. Mr Yems has not, and realistically was never going to, obtain the exoneration of his conduct and character he was seeking.” The upcoming remedy hearing will involve only Yems and Crawley Town to determine the level of compensation, if awarded.
