QPR IN RACE STORM OVER CURRY JIBES
NI midfielder sues club after abuse during Crawley loan spell... and says ex-boss Ramsey brushed off vile slurs
FORMER Queens Park Rangers boss Chris Ramsey has been accused of failing to act on a racism complaint from ex-player Amrit BansalMcNulty, which has led to the club being sued for alleged discrimination.
In an unrelated development the long-serving coach, awarded an MBE five years ago for services to diversity in sport, left his role as technical director this week after nine years at Loftus Road following a review of the club’s academy structure.
Bansal-McNulty is suing QPR for failing to safeguard him from the racism he suffered on loan at Crawley Town, with the compensation claim due to be heard at the London Central Employment Tribunal next year. Ramsey and QPR deny any wrongdoing and the case is not related to his departure from the club.
Bansal-McNulty’s case is part of a wider claim for damages centred on his experiences at Crawley, where he alleges he suffered racist abuse at the hands of manager John Yems. Crawley suspended Yems after allegations of racist behaviour were made by several squad members in April 2022, which led to him being charged by the FA for using discriminatory language.
Yems denied all but one of the charges, but 11 out of the 15 were upheld by the FA disciplinary commission. The 61-year-old was given the longest-ever ban for discrimination in English football last year when an initial 17-month suspension was extended to three years following an FA appeal.
One of the charges upheld involved Yems calling Bansal-McNulty a ‘curry muncher’ and asking if he was unhappy that pizzas given by a sponsor did not include ‘curry pizza’.
Bansal-McNulty’s case is against QPR rather than Ramsey, with two preliminary hearings having taken place in November, when a date for the full hearing was set for summer 2025.
Bansal-McNulty, 23, is understood to have alleged he called Ramsey to complain about the ‘racist banter’ at Crawley in April 2022, a cry for help he claims resulted in no action being taken. The midfielder also alleges that, while offering sympathy, Ramsey used words to the effect that such behaviour was commonplace in League Two and indicated he would have to deal with it.
The former Northern Ireland Under 21 international argues he was surprised by Ramsey’s response as a black man with a history of speaking out about racism and diversity.
Mail Sport broke the story of Yems’ use of racist language at Crawley later in April 2022, which led to his suspension and exit from the club. Ramsey phoned Bansal-McNulty that day.
The player alleges Ramsey was preoccupied by attempting to ascertain whether he had leaked the story in a line of questioning he found to be intimidating, as well as reminding him that his contract was due to expire two months later. Bansal-McNulty’s deal was not renewed and he has not played professionally since.
QPR announced Ramsey’s exit on Monday after nine years at the club, including a nine-month spell as manager in 2015, during which he was the only black manager in the Premier League. He was the last QPR manager to have led the club in the Premier League and became technical director in November 2015 and subsequently head of coaching.
QPR chief executive Lee Hoos told Mail Sport: ‘We are hugely thankful to Chris for nine years of fantastic service, which ended after amicable discussions.
‘Chris displayed a tremendous work ethic and desire to help others. He was an extremely popular member of staff and we wish him every success for the future.’
Ramsey declined to comment.